Brilliant Eco Blog

Great Food Waste Solution for Condo Dwellers!

2010-08-31T10:42:00.000-07:00

Living in a condo doesn't leave you with many options for storing compostable food waste. In comes Fuccillo Design! They've made a cool container that's perfect for anyone living in a condo who wants to compost their waste.

What is your name?

Our names are Salvatore and Jennifer, and we own Fuccillo Design which is a design company based in Vancouver, BC.

What are some things about you?

We believe in the power of design to create positive change in the world. We are passionate about creating designs, whether they be products, interiors, or systems, that really help people. We’re not just about creating cool-looking stuff, though we try to make our helpful designs as cool-looking as possible. We want our designs to be both.

Describe the product you are most proud of.

Our first product, Bin, is a kitchen collection container for organic scraps bound for composting. You keep it in your freezer so that scraps won’t decompose, which eliminates odor and fruit flies (the two biggest complaints people have about composting). It’s made of silicone, which remains flexible even when frozen, which makes emptying easy (a quick flex of the bottom and the scraps pop right out).

What made you want to start your business?

We didn’t want to get hired at a design firm and end up designing a whole lot of “stuff”. We both wanted to be able to choose where we focus our energy, to make sure that we’re focusing it on something that will help people and the planet (hence our motto “for people for earth”).

Where can someone in Vancouver find your products?

Bin will be for sale in 3 stores in Vancouver beginning at the end of September: Cookworks, Walrus Design, and Chocolate Mousse. You can find a full list of on dealers on our website, www.fuccillodesign.com.

SLEEP TIPS

2010-05-16T11:14:00.000-07:00

Getting enough sleep is so important! We hear it again and again, but did you know it can actually help you to become a more calm person and lose weight? This is because of how sleep affects our cortisol levels. Cortisol is the main stress hormone in our body.
Here are some things I do to get a better sleep.

1. I make sure to have really soft, fluffy pillows and bedding made of 100% natural fibres like cotton or bamboo. The softer the bedding, the more my body melts into the bed and becomes (as my husband says) limp like a wet noodle. Also, consider the temperature of the room when deciding which comforter to use.

2. To relax before bed, I make myself a hot cup of tea (decaf of course) and bring it to bed with an interesting book. I don’t read fiction because sometimes I’ll get too into the book and won’t be able to put it down! Instead, I read try to read a philosophical book that reminds me of the big picture. This helps me to keep the events of the day in perspective.

3. To help me relax even more, I put on an essential oil blend around my forehead and the palms of my hands and deeply inhale. One of my favourites is called Goddess from Saje.

4. When I have put my book down and feel like I’m starting to doze off, I put on the irelax app on my iphone. It has ocean sounds, rain sounds and music to help you relax. You can also just use a CD with relaxing sounds or music on it.

5. Make sure your room is dark. Use eye masks, blackout curtains, close the blinds...anything you can do to make it darker.

6. Sometimes, even though you try all these things, stressful thoughts can prevent you from relaxing enough to sleep. When this happens, I try to switch my thoughts to the most joyful things I can think of. You name it...winning the lottery, tropical vacations, fun and happy moments, things I’m thankful for etc. Then the negative thoughts slowly slip away.

7. Something else I do is try to make it easy for myself to sleep in more in the morning. I always have to have breakfast in the morning, but I also want it to be as healthy and fast as possible. What could be better than a breakfast smoothie? Here’s the recipe for the one I have every morning.

Yoona’s Breakfast Smoothie.

1 scoop of Vega Wholefood Health Optimizer (I like Vanilla Chai flavour)
1 banana
1 cup of almond milk
½ cup of blueberries

Blend all until smooth, put in a tall glass and enjoy!

For more information on sleep and cortisol, look at the following websites.

http://www.myprimetime.com/health/ailments_answers/content/sleeping_in/index.shtml
http://thyroid.about.com/od/loseweightsuccessfully/a/sleepdiet.htm

{Image credits: www.blisstree.com, Saje, Vega}

What do you do to help yourself get more sleep?

Happy Earth Day Everyone!

2010-04-22T16:36:00.000-07:00

Decorative and Pretty Invites

2010-04-13T12:20:00.000-07:00

Alizeh at Fancy Ink Designs creates custom made decorative invites. Her invites definitely reflect Alizeh herself who is unique, a little old world, but with a modern twist, and definitely beautiful. Alizeh is very creative, a great listener and has a calmness about her...even when very pregnant! The following is an interview with Alizeh about her unique invites.

What is your name?

Alizeh Fancy, owner of Fancy Ink Designs.

What are some things about you?

I believe in doing everything we can to help one another, including our environment. Being the mother of 6 year old with another one on the way, I am putting a lot of thought into how to reduce my footprint (or rather my baby’s bottom print) to ensure the earth is a better place for their generation. We compost, recycle and try to buy local and as few plastic things as we can and are going to use cloth diapers this time around. We spend a lot of our free time hiking and biking and just being outdoors, even if its only at the playground. I also love to practice yoga and find drawing and art a wonderful way to release tension.

What inspired you to start Fancy Ink?

Having been in the printing industry for over a decade, I had seen the most beautiful papers and I fell in love with translucent papers in a multitude of colours. They inspired me to create a line of wedding invitations in beautiful designs which brought me into this wonderful world of weddings! Now I do graphic design for couples looking for original and customized stationary for their big day.

What makes Fancy Ink ‘green’?

We try to do everything we can to encourage our couples to use FSC (Forestry Stewardship certified) paper, eco friendly printing processes and vegetable and soy based inks when printing in the traditional offset method. Most of my custom invitations are printed on a digital press which uses non toxic dry inks, limited amount of paper and does not leak chemicals into our water system, however still has the high quality you expect from custom invitations.

What kind of service can people expect from Fancy Ink?

More than anything I believe in getting value for your dollar, both in product and in service. With a background in the printing industry, I have the knowledge to make printing efficient and the know-how to provide additional pieces for practically free. Ensuring things are done right the first time around is one of my priorities. In addition a high level of service by making the client happy and going the extra mile for them is very important.

Is there anything else you would like to share with the readers of Brilliant Eco Blog?

Weddings, especially your own, are a time to be happy and enjoy the process. My advice would be to not try to do everything by yourself. Do what you know you are good at, but relieve stress by shopping around and finding people who can help you for a price you can afford.

Remember that the most important thing is to enjoy your big day so find people you would like to work with and that you can trust to help you out.

Visit www.fancyinkdesigns.com for more information on Alizeh and her invites.

Fun, Cutesy Invites by Something Green

2010-04-04T11:09:00.000-07:00

I first met Corinne Leroux at the Grassroots Wedding Fair. She is this sweet smiley girl who has a passion for all things green. Something Green, a wedding invitation company started by Jahzel Misner and herself, offers wedding invites that are definitely out of the ordinary. They are fun and original designs that are for those couples who want to make a statement. The following is an interview I recently had with Corinne.

What is your name?

Corinne Leroux & Jahzel Misner

What are some things about you?

Jahzel & I are both graphic designers and we went to university together. We’re both artsy. Jahzel loves to paint & draw. I am more crafty – Knitting and creating Stained Glass windows are just a couple of my hobbies. We try to use environmentally friendly products in our daily lives, and this has influenced our business practices as well.

What inspired you to start Something Green?

A lot of our friends were getting married, and some of them had asked me to design their wedding invitations. I thought it might be a good business opportunity, so I asked Jahzel if she would be interested in started a company with me. We worked together a lot during university, and she jumped on the idea. Initially we were thinking of having two product lines, one with regular paper, and one on recycled paper, but we decided to just be completely environmentally friendly.

What makes Something Green “green”?

Our cards are printed on 100% recycled paper that is 50% Post-consumer waste and is FSC certified. The inks are wax-based, organic, and biodegradable. We also try and used eco-friendly products in our trade shows and our office supplies. Anything from bamboo table cloths to biodegradable pens.

How would you describe the style of your invites?

They’re not your typical traditional wedding invitations. They’re fun, cutesy and out of the ordinary. Our designs range anywhere from flowery cards to video game inspired cards.

What kind of service can someone expect from Something Green?

We have excellent customer service. Most communication is email based, and once an order is placed, we work directly with our clients until their order is approved. Once it has been printed, delivery takes 2 to 3 weeks, depending on location.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

Although we don’t do custom designed cards, we’re always looking for new ideas. If you have a suggestion of something you’d like to see, let us know, and we’ll see what we can come up with.

Check out the Something Green online store at www.somethinggreenweddings.com.

Post Show Update!

2010-02-07T11:28:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone!

I haven't been able to update the blog in two weeks because since the show, my life has been moving at super speed! The show was an amazing success! I am so grateful to have met so many wonderful vendors there who are as kind as they are talented. I also have to mention the great brides-to-be who all came out. I was so impressed by how laid back and smiley everyone was.

For those of you who entered the draw for the free day-of-wedding coordination, the official draw date is February 20th, 2010 and the winner will be posted here on the blog and contacted by phone. Good luck to all of you!

For now, here are some pics from the show, including the door prize table below that I helped arrange. Enjoy!

Win 2 Tickets to this Saturday's Grassroots Wedding Fair!

2010-01-25T14:19:00.001-08:00

Yes people! Vancouver's first Eco-Friendly Wedding Fair is this Saturday, January 30th! The Grassroots Wedding Fair is going to be fantastic with lots of goodies from local artisans and all kinds of inspirational ideas for greening your wedding.

Brilliant Eco Events is giving away two tickets to one lucky winner! Simply post the story of how you got engaged here on the blog, and the most sickeningly sweet story will win!

Pass the word on to your newly engaged friends! Good luck!

LSLG CHALLENGE WEEK 4: THE LAST STEP: GREENING IT UP!

2010-01-25T13:12:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone! This week we’re going to focus on four ways to green your now beautified kitchen!

REDUCE PLASTIC AND PACKAGING

Doing this has many great outcomes. When you’re trying to reduce plastic and packaging that comes with the food you buy, you end up buying healthier, fresher food. Foods like fruits and vegetables usually come with very little or no packaging compared to ready-made foods or foods processed in some way. Also, you end up buying more in bulk so you save shopping time. Another bonus is that natural, healthier foods are less expensive than their processed versions. In David Suzuki’s book “David Suzuki’s Green Guide”, he makes a comparison between having an apple or a chocolate bar for a snack. Let’s see....apples have no packaging, are healthy and are about $0.25 each. Chocolate bars have packaging, aren’t very healthy and are about $1.00.
So you end up saving lots of money too!

MAKE A RECYCLING SYSTEM THAT YOU LOVE

It’s important to have a nice recycling system that you love. When my husband and I lived in our tiny apartment downtown, our recycling system was a grocery bag hung on the front door that we dumped cans, plastic and paper into and had to sort out once we got to the recycling bins downstairs. I began to resent that bag because it was ugly on the door, it was so small that it filled up really fast which meant a lot of trips down to the recycling bins, and it felt like it was cramping my style a bit. I work hard to keep a clean, tidy place and it all kind of goes out the window when your friends come over and see this hideous, smelly bag full of recycling hanging on the door, doesn't it?
After we moved to our new place about 3 years ago, the plastic bag thing continued out of habit, but then one day I decided enough is enough and went to ikea for my awesome Rationell Recycling Bins (pictured above)! The nice thing about them is they come in different sizes so you can get the ones that fit your recycling needs the best. I labelled the covers with my trusty label maker and because they come with a nice rolling pull out system, I’m going to install them under my sink as soon as the kitchen is done being renovated. Now the recycling is organized and out of sight....aaaaahhhhh....

GO PAPERLESS

I haven’t done this yet, but my plan for January’s challenge was for me to participate in parts of the challenge too. Instead of using paper towel in the kitchen, I’m going to get a bunch of kitchen and tea towels (see last week’s post for some great ones) for all the kitchen clean ups. This is going to greatly reduce the paper towel use in my home. As I mentioned in last week’s post, buying the Natura cloth really reduced our paper towel use because my husband actually reached for the cloth rather than grabbing a few paper towels. I’m thinking going completely paperless won’t be that much of a transition as long as I am prepared. Here are a few great links on the subject:

How to go Paper Towel-Less in the Kitchen
How to Create a Paperless Kitchen
Go paperless in the kitchen - Easy on your budget and the environment

HAVE A COMPOST SYSTEM

This one will require a bit more thought and planning. If you live in a single family home with a yard and garden, composting will be a bit easier for you because you can add the compost to your own outdoor area. Also, for single family home dwellers, you can take advantage of the soon to be implemented drop off and collection systems around Greater Vancouver to get rid of the compost you don't use.

However, if you live in an apartment or condo like me, it’s a lot harder to know what to do with your compost. There are lots of worm compost bins available out there for apartment dwellers but what to do with it afterwards seems to be something you have to come up with. I called both the City of Burnaby to see what my options were and they both said that later this year they’re implementing the single home yard and green waste drop off, but that doesn’t apply to multi-family homes. The lady I talked to at Burnaby said she also lives in a condo and she has just been giving her compost away to friends and family who did have a yard. Hmmmm...
I have a lot of thinking to do in terms of composting. Every time I chop off the end of a bunch of celery or the top of a radish I think “I really should get on to having a composting system in place”. The Naturemill kitchen composter looks so great and easy to use(picture above), but a lot more money to invest in.
It will happen soon! I have already found some great links with suggestions for the apartment dwellers’ compost problem and how to get started etc. Here are a few useful ones!

All About Compost
How I Started My Compost Bin
Composting With Red Wiggler Worms
Tips to Reduce Your Garbage
Composting Without A Yard

Good luck with all the greening!

{Image credits: Telegraph.co.uk, www.naturemill.com, underwould}

Wedding Greenspiration: Eco-Friendly Wines and Beers

2010-01-21T09:52:00.000-08:00

In B.C. it has become much easier to find eco-friendly wines and beers. More and more wineries and breweries are deciding to become Certified Organic. Below are some links to help make your choices easier. Have fun sampling some of them with your fiance before making choices for your wedding!

At Wines of Canada, there's a list of Certified Organic wines and information on the requirements for organic wines in Canada. For information on organic certification in B.C., you can go to Certified Organic Associations of B.C.

For local vegan wines, go to Epicurvegan. They have a list of 100% vegan and vegan-friendly wines.

There are a few certified organic beers out there with a large selection of beers.
Here are a few:

Crannog Ales
Nelson Brewing
Pacific Western Brewing Co.

Has anyone tried some of these? What do you think of them? Do you have any favourites?

{Image credits: Sutton Place Wine Merchant, Nelson Brewing}

Wedding Greenspiration: Shoes and Socks

2010-01-17T22:14:00.000-08:00

When it comes to wedding attire, a nice mix of tradition and personal style make the outfit. Why not show some personal style in your shoes and socks? Sometimes shoes and socks become an afterthought and with all the other details to attend to, don't seem something to fuss over. Why steer away from the traditional black and white shoes and socks? Well, if you buy fantastic non-white evening shoes you love, you are probably more likely to wear them again(My sister loves her fuschia wedding shoes!). Also, it can be a way to extend your wedding colours into you and your fiance's outfits. Why should the bridesmaids have all the fun?

{Image credits: www.tyingtheknot.net, www.brookeschwabphotography.com, www.stylehive.com, www.weddingsbycolor.com, www.canadianbride.com, www.jimmychoo.com}

LSLG CHALLENGE WEEK 3: PRETTY IT UP!

2010-01-17T21:13:00.000-08:00

Now that your kitchen is clean and organized, you’re probably feeling pretty good about it! Now it’s time to pretty it up with things like plants, linens, pictures and anything else you can think of! Here are some green suggestions:

Purifying Plants
Some plants brighten up a kitchen and clean the air! Some plants that are especially great for the kitchen are peace lilies, philodendron and pothos. These plants like the humid environment of a kitchen and are great for cleaning things like formaldehyde, acetone and ammonia from the environment.

Herbs
If you have a kitchen with lots of sunlight, you can grow your own little potted herb garden! Herbs make the kitchen look lovely and liven up your meals!

Edible Flowers
I haven’t tried this one yet, but it’s on my list of to dos. How awesome would it be to have people over and harvest some edible flowers from your kitchen to add to salads and dishes?
Tres chic and pretty in the kitchen! Go here learn more about edible flowers and here for some edible flower recipes.

Kitchen Linens
When choosing your kitchen linens, find ones made from organic and sustainable materials. Here are a few I found:

I love the Natura Cloth! You can buy it at any Home Hardware. It is made from 100% natural wood fibres and resists bacterial growth. My husband didn’t like using our old dishcloth because it would smell like mildew after a few uses, but this one doesn’t. It does smell after a month or so, but I make sure to ring it out well after every use and wash it every once in a while.

The Hankettes company from Roberts Creek, B.C. sells all kinds of kitchen linens made from organic cotton and are natural or hand-dyed. They carry kitchen towels, house cleaning cloths, napkins and many other kitchen linens.

Check out the hemp and flax kitchen linens at Rawganique. They are certified organic and have been processes without any chemicals. Rawganique has dish scrubs, kitchen towels, dish towels and even scrub gloves. Also, read the About Us section of the website. Boy are these guys inspiring in their commitment to sustainability!

Have a great week!

{Image credits: www.joeypics.com, www.giftinmemory.com, www.organictobe.org, www.homehardware.ca, www.hankettes.com, www.rawganique.com}

Win 2 Tickets to the Grassroots Wedding Fair!

2010-01-12T21:45:00.000-08:00

Yes people! Vancouver's first Eco-Friendly Wedding Fair is happening really soon! The Grassroots Wedding Fair is going to be fantastic with lots of goodies from local artisans and all kinds of inspirational ideas for greening your wedding.

Brilliant Eco Events is giving away two tickets to one lucky winner! Simply post the story of how you got engaged here on the blog, and the most sickeningly sweet story will win!

Pass the word on to your newly engaged friends! Good luck!

LIVING SIMPLY, LIVING GREEN CHALLENGE WEEK 2: ORGANIZE

2010-01-10T13:53:00.001-08:00

The LSLG Challenge for January is to simplify and green the kitchen. This week we are organizing the kitchen.

WEEK 2: ORGANIZE

After you have successfully purged and cleaned your kitchen, it’s time to organize! I always see these inspiring pictures of perfectly organized cutlery drawers and pantries that use custom dividers etc. I say reduce consumption and spend less by just using containers and baskets you already have. I collected unused baskets and containers to organize my deep drawers, and some containers to organize cutlery drawers. (See pics above.) I love it! If you don’t have enough, ask your friends and family if they have any baskets or containers they don’t want. If you are like me and you are slowly trying to transition from plastic food containers to glass, you can use those old plastic containers for measuring cups and spoons and other small tools.

Again, start small. Organize the drawers one at a time, then go with the cupboards, then the pantry.

Here are some inspiring pictures I found on the internet of some lovely organized cupboards, drawers and pantries! Good luck!

{Image credits: 2.bp.blogspot.com, allthingsgd.blogspot.com,www.curbly.com, www.tipnut.com, www.countryliving.com,farm3.static.flickr.com}

Challenge 2010: Living Simply, Living Green

2010-01-03T17:49:00.000-08:00

Happy new year everyone! I haven’t posted for a while because the holidays took over and I decided to give in to them and go with the flow. I’m really excited about the new year and with a living simply, living green challenge!

I realized a while ago that I don’t like to make resolutions because of several reasons. First, they are kind of restrictive. A year is a long time and I find that my resolutions evolve as time goes by. Also, it’s hard for me to know how specific to get in my resolution, and then in my plans to pursue them. I would rather have a general resolution to improve myself in as many ways possible and then focus on a couple of things at a time.

So on to the challenge! The purpose of this challenge is to guide and inspire us into improving the quality of our day to day lives and help the planet. The title of the challenge seems very vague at first. Everyone has their own idea of what living simply is, and everyone is at a different stage of trying to make their lives greener. Who’s going to join me for the first challenge....

THE KITCHEN

There is nothing I love more than a warm, cozy ... kitchen! I try to cook dinner every night to stay health and budget friendly and so my challenge for January is make my kitchen feel as comforting and inviting as possible while greening it in as many ways as I can! How much more will you want to make your favourite winter soup and homemade bread when you are drawn to your lovely, earth friendly kitchen!

WEEK 1: PURGE AND CLEAN
For this week’s challenge, go through every corner of your kitchen and purge items that you know you don’t need. Start with a back cupboard that you hardly every open and work your way around. Maybe just do one or two cupboards a day. While doing this, decide if that particular thing is being well used by you, or if donated, could be put to better use by someone else who might need it. Do you really use that microwave egg poacher? Do you really need 7 ladles? After the cupboards, go for the pantry and refrigerator. Check due dates on condiments and if they are expired, save those great glass jars for storing, beans, spices, jams or homemade pickles! This would be a good week to make dinner every night out of the contents of your freezer.

After you have sufficiently purged, it’s time to clean. Switch to eco-friendly cleaners if you haven’t already. I have slowly gone from non eco-friendly, to store bought eco-friendly to just plain vinegar, baking soda and a natural bristle brush. It’s so cheap and great!

Here are some great cleaners made by local companies if you want to buy them at the store:

I use the live for tomorrow automatic dishwasher powder and love it! You only use about a tablespoon and the dishes come out great!

Sapadilla Soap Co. makes plant-based, biodegradable, non-toxic cleaning products. The products are available all over B.C.

VIP Soap Products have all kinds of household, laundry and personal care products.

Here are some site with homemade household cleaner recipes, including some great sites with multiple uses for vinegar and hydrogen peroxide:

1001 Uses for White Distilled Vinegar
Using Hydrogen Peroxide
Green Kitchen DIY Cleaning
How To Clean Your Microwave
Best DIY/Natural Cleaning Solutions

By the way, if the 1 week time limit for purging and cleaning is stressing you out, take 2,3 or 4 weeks! Stress is never good! This should be a positive and uplifting activity, not something that causes you negative feelings. After you are done all that cleaning and purging, reward yourself with some great chocolate or wine!

Top Image Credits:
www.weheartit.com
www.maxifurniture.net

Holiday: Simple Green Gifts

2009-12-15T10:36:00.000-08:00

This year, my husband and I decided we wanted to give something useful or edible for xmas. We figured nobody we know really needs anything and whenever we ask what they want, they have to really think about what they should tell us to get them. This seems just plain wasteful. Hopefully that didn't sound too Scrooge-like! But we still want to give something nice and useful. Here are some simple green gifts I found while gift searching. Most can be ordered or found locally in B.C. and are budget friendly too.

This cute everyday bag is the Lilikoi Laurel Handbag and is only $45. Lilikoi pieces are all made in B.C. and the fabrics used are all high quality and sustainable. Perfect for that fashionista sister or girlfriend!

Flowering teas from Numi Tea make a unique and pretty gift! You can get Numi teas at Whole Foods, Granville Island Produce, Langley Farm Markets and Apple Farm Markets.

Klean Kanteen now makes insulated bottles for those coffee lovers in your life. There are three different sizes and the prices range from $22-$32. You can find Klean Kanteen products at London Drugs or House of Knives locations around Vancouver.

For that jeans and t-shirt guy, you can get this comfy organic cotton hat from Boo Clothing for only $18. Boo Clothing is a great new clothing company based out of North Vancouver, B.C. All their clothes are comfy basics that are made from bamboo, soy and organic cotton.

There are a lot of candle lovers out there. These Spice Bliss candles from Mystic Masala are made from pure soy wax and 100% cotton wicks. You can get them from Hippy Grandma or directly from Mystic Masala (both B.C. based companies).

For anyone you know who loves yoga, these Super Grippy Yoga Gloves will help with their downward dogs! They are made from Gaiam. Gaiam products are available at Chapters Bookstores.

Babycakes Bakery in New York makes healthy baked goods that are vegan, mostly gluten-free and mostly sugar-free. Their recipe book makes great gift for that health buff.

Image credits:
Lilikoi Laurel Handbag: Lilikoi Clothing
Numi Flowering Tea: Numi Tea
Kleen Kanteen Insulated Bottle: Klean Kanteen
Boo Organic Cotton Hat: Boo Clothing
Spice Bliss Candle: The Mystic Masala
Super Grippy Yoga Gloves: Gaiam
Babycakes: Babycakes Vegan Bakery

DIY Handmade Tea Bags

2009-12-08T14:47:00.000-08:00

This is a great gift or favour idea from Bonzai Aphrodite. It's economical and you can personalize the tags and strings to suit your style! Look here for the how to.

{Image from Bonzai Aphrodite}

The Holidays: DIY Herb Basket

2009-12-07T20:07:00.000-08:00

With the holidays coming soon (in 2 weeks!), gift buying is coming down to the crunch. Here's a great eco-friendly gift idea for a friend or family member! Put together a herb basket with all their favourite herbs. I would love to receive this as a gift!

You can see the how to on this blog, but it's all in Italian. The photos show the step by step though.

{Image from Vivir a la Italiana}

Wedding Greenspiration: Rachel Larraine Hairpieces

2009-12-07T16:31:00.000-08:00

Rachel Larraine designs gorgeous hairpieces that are all handmade and unique! You and your bridesmaids could each wear a different design. You can see the rest of the collection at the website.

{Images from Luna Photo}

Wedding Greenspiration: Pebble Placecards and Wooden Box Centerpieces

2009-12-07T16:11:00.000-08:00

These gorgeous wedding photos from Tiny Water Photography show amazing eco friendly ideas. From pebble placecards to understated wooden boxes with plants and moss, the wedding is rustic, earthy and inviting. For more pictures of this wedding, go to Tiny Water Photography Blog.

{Images from Tiny Water Photography}

I Want It: Eco Friendly Kitchen Scrubs

2009-12-03T10:45:00.000-08:00

Kitchen scrubbers from Goodbye Detergent! are made from natural and recycled materials like corn cobs, walnut shells, pumice stone and recycled plastic. They aren't available in Vancouver yet, but have some retailers in Toronto. I really want to try them! I hope they come to Vancouver soon.

{Images from Goodbye Detergent!}

Wedding Greenspiration: Themed Seating Chart

2009-12-02T16:22:00.000-08:00

When making the seating chart for your wedding, why not create a theme around special events, places or objects that are important and meaningful to you and your fiance? The one above is themed around the college the couple attended together. You can theme yours around places you went when you were dating, favourite foods or have a cultural theme. The possibilites are limitless.

{Image from Lucky Orchid Weddings}

Staying Blissful: Carrot and Ginger Dressing

2009-12-02T15:20:00.000-08:00

When I first made this dressing from goop I fell in love! I use Korean soy paste instead of miso because that's what I have in the house all the time. It's delicious and I put it on pretty much any simple salad.

{Image from goop}

Karmavore: Vancouver's Awesome Vegan Shop!

2009-12-02T12:34:00.000-08:00

Nestled in historic Sapperton in New Westminster, there is a charming shop filled with great vegan products! Karmavore is conveniently located in the centre of Greater Vancouver and also has an online store. Here is an interview with owner Jennifer Jamal. When I first met Jennifer, her warm smile and friendliness made me like her right away!

Tell me some things about you?

I am a devout vegan, and I believe in living a lifestyle that respects all life, including animals and the planet. It is important to be aware of how our everyday decisions can impact the environment or the life of another. I love yoga, baking vegan cupcakes, and the sunshine! My husband and I have three cats- they are our babies, and we love them dearly. They are all cats that have been rescued from shelters.

Where is Karmavore located and when did you open?

Karmavore is located in historic Sapperton at 468 E. Columbia in New Westminster. We opened our retail location last July, and prior to that were running the online shop since March. We found that most of our local online orders came from the suburbs of the lower mainland, and that influenced our decision to locate in New West.

What made you want to start your business?

We have always wanted to contribute something to the animals and veganism. We found that so many specialty products (marshmallows, vegan cat and dog food, white chocolate, jerky, etc.) were not available locally, and that we were spending a lot of time trying to find these products and money for shipping the items. We wanted to make being vegan for accessible, and we also wanted to give back to the animals, which is why 10% of our profits go towards several animal charities.

What kinds of things can people find there?

We have lots and lots of vegan goodies! We carry footwear for men and women from brands such as Novacas, The Vegan Collection, and Vegetarian Shoes; clothing from Herbivore, cosmetics and body care products; and many specialty food items. Our most popular items are Dandies Marshmallows, Sweet and Sarah Marshmallows, Daiya Vegan Cheese, and Ami Cat pet food.

Daiya Vegan Cheese is a new addition to our store, and it has been flying from the fridge ever since we started carrying it! It is a delicious cheese alternative that looks, tastes, and melts like cheese with half the fat, no cholesterol, and not a trace of animal cruelty! I was so happy when the product came on the market, I missed having grilled cheese sandwiches and quesadillas! It is also a local product, which means transportation of this product is at a minimum. We are aware of our carbon footprint, and trying to source local products when possible. We are also big on organic and fair trade. We understand the impact of non-organic agriculture on the environment, and so we carry as much organic as we can, Some organic products we carry are Bonvita White Chocolate Bars, Chocoreale Hazelnut Chocolate Spread (like Nutella, but better!), and even organic cotton t-shirts. We carry several fair-trade products, including fair trade dark chocolate and hot chocolate.

EVENTS AT KARMAVORE

Don't forget to go to the Charity Fundraiser for Hearts on Noses Pig Sanctuary this Saturday, December 5 in Maple Ridge. Tickets are $20 and half of that goes directly to the Sanctuary and includes a Go Vegan! 2010 Calendar by Sarah Kramer, cupcakes from the Vegan Cupcake Queen, and appetizers from VeganMania.

Also, Vegan cookbook author Sarah Kramer will be in the store for a signing of her new calendar and awesome cookbooks. There will also be a special sale- 10% off all items, and 10% of all sales will also go to Hearts on Noses.

Staying Blissful: Going Vegan the Greener Way?

2009-12-02T12:08:00.000-08:00

While surfing on the internet a few weeks ago, I saw that actress Alicia Silverstone (Love her! Clueless is a classic!) had written a book on going vegan called The Kind Diet. I had to buy it! I learned a lot about the food industry and the treatment of animals. I hate to admit it but I had a vague idea of what was going on before, but pushed it to the back of my mind and didn't look into it. Not anymore! I actually got very teary when reading about how the animals were treated.

The part that really hit home for me (not that the stuff about the animals wasn’t bad!) was all the information about how the meat and dairy industries are affecting our environment! From greenhouse gases to water waste to toxins in our food. And so my ah-ha moment: Diet decisions affect the environment in a big way. As someone who cares about the quality of air, water and food for future generations, this new connection has affected me and I have made changes in my food choices as a result.

This book was great. Alicia is never preachy, just informative. The diet itself is quite flexible and takes into account those who are far from vegan and those who are full on.

It's been 2 weeks so far since I have started and things I have noticed is smoother, softer skin, better digestion, more control over emotions and feeling less heavy. I don't know how long I can stick to it since it's just the beginning, but I’m trying and hoping to get the the holidays without going nuts! I know for sure that I won't be eating the same way again.

Wedding Greenspiration: Wedding Dresses

2009-12-02T10:32:00.000-08:00

The first few things a bride thinks about when beginning to plan her wedding is the budget and the dress. Then in the crazy whirlwind of wedding thoughts, she starts wondering what the best way to go about finding a dress is. For the eco-conscious, things are simplified because guess what? Eco-friendly options are usually the more budget-friendly options as well! Here are some tips to finding a dress and being eco-friendly at the same time:

Reduce and Reuse

Whenever possible, it's best to reduce consumption and try not to buy things unless absolutely necessary. One option is to rent your dress. You are only wearing it once and there are a plethora of choices out there.

If you want to keep your dress after the wedding, you can buy a used dress. They are only worn once, cleaned and good as new! There are several wedding dress consignment places around the city to shop around in. Your dream dress may be waiting for you there!

If you can't find one in the consignment shops, check online on craigslist or any other site that sells used items.

Another great option would be to wear a dress that was worn by a family member and go vintage chic. You can modernize it with your hairstyle, accessories and shoes, and wearing it will add meaning to the day for everyone.

Recycle

So you've checked out all the dress rental and consignment places and have searched the internet for used dresses until your fingers are about to fall off, but you can't get your mind off a dress you saw in a bridal magazine. There are things you can do after your purchase that are eco-friendly as well.

After your wedding, make sure to take your dress to an eco-friendly dry cleaner. Some eco-friendly dry cleaners in Vancouver who clean wedding dresses are: Shirtland Dry Cleaners, West Boulevard Cleaners and Helping Hand Cleaners.

After your dress is nice and clean, you can keep it for future generations, put it up on craigslist or sell it to a rental shop or put it up for consignment.

Buy an Organic Dress

Quite a few wedding dress designers nowadays are coming out with eco-friendly lines that are gorgeous! One Canadian designer is Adele Wechsler from Ontario. Her eco couture collection is made from certified organic hemp and/or silk, vegetable dyes, remnant fabrics and fair trade labour. The dresses are beautiful (like the one above). My favourite line is the eco-couture II collection. So simple and elegant!

{Image from Adele Wechsler}

Wedding Greenspiration: Pie Favours and Table Number Idea

2009-12-02T10:09:00.001-08:00

Look at these adorable mini pie favours from Style Me Pretty.
It's always less wasteful to give edible favours and you can personalize them with fillings, different shapes cut out on the crust or with different coloured ribbons. There is a step by step on how to make these on Style Me Pretty.

These double as a table number holder and snack for guests before dinner. You can make so many variations of this to match your own wedding theme. Go to Style Me Pretty for the how to.

{Images from Style Me Pretty}

Wedding Greenspiration: Centerpieces

2009-12-02T09:31:00.000-08:00

I love this idea for an eco-friendly, budget-friendly centerpiece from a wedding featured on green wedding shoes. If your wedding is a few months or more into the future, save a bunch of glass jars and bottles and fill them with some local flowers that match your wedding colours!

{Image from green wedding shoes}

The First Green Wedding Fair in Vancouver!

2009-11-24T19:28:00.000-08:00

Hooray! Brilliant Eco Events will be participating in the first green wedding fair in Vancouver: The Grassroots Wedding Fair! I'm very excited about this because it will give couples a chance to see all the eco-friendly possibilities for their wedding. It's going to be very unique and fun. More details coming soon!

Green Planet Parties!

2009-11-23T16:49:00.000-08:00

A big part of getting married is all the parties and get togethers you have before the wedding. Although it's ideal to use the dishes and cutlery you have at home, during the hectic weeks before the wedding it's really hard to pass up using disposables. Vancouver's Green Planet Parties provides awesome eco-friendly options for any party. They have both reuseable and disposable partyware as well as other great green party supplies! Their Palm Leaf Party in a Bag (above) comes with everything you need for any bridal shower or engagement party at home! You get 178 pieces all for $36.75.
Check out these other party options:

These are reuseable tablecloths so you never have to get those vinyl ones again!

The Preserve Party in a Bag is for outdoor parties where it would be impractical to transport dishes and cutlery used at home. The dishes and cutlery are made from recycled yogurt containers and are all dishwasher safe!

{Images from:Green Planet Parties}

Staying Blissful: Food

2009-11-23T12:56:00.000-08:00

Part of staying blissful during a huge transitional time like an engagement is to make sure we are eating healthily. For most of us, it's hard to stay balanced and eat healthily even during the less eventful times of our lives, let alone the more crazy hectic times like during our engagement. We all want to but it seems like there are more important things to think about. The dress, the flowers, guests, the itinerary... oh yeah, and regular everyday stuff too!
All of these things can become overwhelming and really stressful. But think back to before you were engaged...how did you picture the newly engaged you? You probably pictured yourself happily with your fiance feeding each other chocolate fondue, walking hand in hand,and passing the time away having picnics before the big day.
Well, maybe being engaged won't be like that (if it is for you than all I can say is what are you doing reading this? Go back to your lovely schedule of fondue eating and skipping hand in hand with your fiance!), but if you are more balanced in body, a balanced mind will follow and you will certainly be more blissful.
Good food helps us to get through our engagement (and life) with more energy, balances our bodies and minds, and helps us to feel like a calm, beautiful creature! I'm not a nutritionist, but here's what has worked for me:

1. Try to eat as many veggies as possible! You heard it, you know it, and it works!

2. Stay away from sugar. Once in a while you do need a little something sweet to make you feel better but don't go overboard. The crash and crankiness that follows isn't really worth it. Even better, find something sweet that is healthy too like fruit or granola.

3. Make sure to have all your meals. Don't skip meals! That's the sure way to be cranky, have low energy and eat unhealthy stuff later on in the day.

4. Take a multivitamin. For days that I'm too busy or I know I didn't eat as many veggies as I should have, I make sure to take my multivitamin. The ones I like are from New Chapter Organics because they are a whole-food complex. I've tried other multivitamins in the past and they always made me feel nauseous. These never do.

5. Eat until you are full. I find I just don't feel satisfied unless I eat until I'm full. Also, if I'm still hungry, all I think about is food and I can't focus on much else. So how do you eat until you're full without gaining weight? Just eat a lot of veggies and whole grains!

6. Stay away from junky food. Everyone has a different definition of what "junk food" is, but for me it's anything that is high in things like fat, sugar, refined flour, preservatives or chemicals. Usually we don't feel very good physically or about ourselves after eating these things.

Hope that helps you on your quest to staying blissful!

{Image from: weheartit}

Welcome to Brilliant Eco Blog!

2009-11-21T11:26:00.000-08:00

Thank you for checking out Brilliant Eco Blog! I'm very excited about starting this blog as I have so much to share with brides in Vancouver and beyond! Every week I'm going to post awesome stuff like Wedding Greenspiration which will feature cool green weddings, groovy eco-friendly products and services and ideas you can use for your wedding.
There will also be features on local businesses in and around Vancouver that I have discovered to be exceptional and green at the same time. Last but not least, there will be articles on how to stay a Blissful Bride while going through the ups and downs of wedding planning. So check back often and stay a well bride!