Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Freerice.com is an interactive website owned by the United Nations World Food Programme that a friend of mine introduced me to some years ago.
The site is built around a simple but educational word game that involves guessing the correct definition of a given term from a list of possible definitions. For each correct response, 10 grains of rice are donated to the UN World Food Programme to help feed hungry people in need.
The site is built around a simple but educational word game that involves guessing the correct definition of a given term from a list of possible definitions. For each correct response, 10 grains of rice are donated to the UN World Food Programme to help feed hungry people in need.
I like visiting this site when I have writers block because it helps me clear my head and because it helps me feel like I'm doing something productive instead of just wasting time. So the next time you're in need of a quick diversion, I highly recommend you play a few rounds. The smarter you get, the more everyone benefits!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Like it or not, the temperature is dropping and it will soon be time to dig up your fall and winter wardrobe. Keep cozy this fall with one of our many colourful hemp beanies made in the USA by Hempy's. They're great for both guys and girls!
According to Hemp Traders, hemp is one of the strongest and most durable natural textile fibres. Not only does it hold up well to repeated use but it is also very absorbent and great for keeping you warm during the colder weather. All of these attributes make these hats just the thing for outdoor winter sports or for day to day use during the colder months!
Friday, September 07, 2012
While I've always been a big fan of the mini skirt, I admit that it's probably not be the best choice for an office environment. A grey pants suit on the other hand, is a very professional choice but it's slightly too conservative for a 5 à 7.
My solution? The always fashionable, super-flattering, sexy but subtle pencil skirt. Here is my personal recipe for the perfect work to weekend outfit:
- Start with a low to medium height heel and add a pair of sheer nylons (substitute with woollen stockings in a pinch).
- Zip into your favourite knee-length pencil skirt and button up a tailored sleeveless blouse making sure to tuck in at the bottom.
- Next add a fitted cardigan and/or a cotton blazer for extra warmth.
- Finish off with a colourful silk scarf and head for the door!
Voila! It's easy and it looks great. And it just so happens that we carry a beautifully crafted pencil skirt by Jonano made from 100% certified organic cotton that is perfect for your fall wardrobe.
Choose from black-grey herringbone or brown-tan herringbone, or go for both! This is one fashion staple that you're sure to reach for time and time again.
Choose from black-grey herringbone or brown-tan herringbone, or go for both! This is one fashion staple that you're sure to reach for time and time again.
Thursday, September 06, 2012
Cotton covers 2.5% of the world's cultivated land yet uses 16% of the world's insecticides - more than any other single major crop (Organic Trade Association)
Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants in the world making it highly renewable & sustainable (GreenPlanet.com)
Hemp is grown with fewer chemical inputs than non-organic cotton, or none at all, meaning less water pollution, less air pollution and because of hemp's soil anchoring qualities, less soil erosion (Hempys.com)
Modal is a textile made from reconstituted cellulose from the beech tree and is extremely water-absorbent (WiseGeek.com)
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
The owners of the club, Stephanie Karlovits and Neil Frotten, promise a good time for the entire family with tours of their new facility, complimentary refreshments and food, games, prizes, and music too! Between now and September 8th they are also running a pre-sale membership promotion, so be sure to get yours before they run out.
Although I'm not a fitness expert, myself, I feel very confident in promoting this new club because Neil was my personal trainer for more than two years before I moved to go back to school. In addition to seeing great results, I also had a lot of fun while working with Neil! Knowing how passionate both he and Stephanie are about health and fitness I am sure that EPIC Fitness will deliver nothing but the best!
For details on their grand opening event, pre-sale membership promotion, and further information on their new club, check out the EPIC Fitness website at: www.epicfitnessottawa.com. Hope to see you there this Saturday!
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
Next time you're out to dinner, impress your friends with some fun and interesting sustainability facts, courtesy of UCLA. Here are some of my favourites:
- Office buildings use approximately 19 percent of all energy consumed in the US
- A five minute shower is equal to 20-35 gallons of water
- Recycling 1 ton of glass saves the equivalent in energy of 10 gallons of oil
- In 1993, for the first time in history, more paper was recovered for recycling in the United States than was landfilled
Many of these tidbits are great motivators to continue along the path to sustainability because they show how small gestures can have big impacts if they're adopted by large amounts of people. Plus they can help you develop a solid argument for the green movement if you happen to come across a sceptic.
Should this occur, simply remind your friend that the “energy saved from recycling one aluminum can could operate a computer or TV for three hours and a six-pack saves enough energy to drive a car five miles” (UCLA). Now who could argue with that?
Should this occur, simply remind your friend that the “energy saved from recycling one aluminum can could operate a computer or TV for three hours and a six-pack saves enough energy to drive a car five miles” (UCLA). Now who could argue with that?Monday, September 03, 2012
Labour Day Monday is all about rest and relaxation and quality time with the family before jumping into the busy fall season. For some of us, this may be our last opportunity for a while to catch up on some much needed sleep. And as we all know, getting enough rest is essential to good health.
According to the American ChiropracticAssociation (AMA), there are a number of ways to ensure a better quality of sleep, including:
(1) regular exercise;
(2) limiting your intake of caffein;
(3) avoiding cold water during the night so as not to disrupt the digestive system;
(4) eating an early dinner;
(5) getting into a regular sleep routine; and
(6) keeping your bedroom at a cool, comfortable temperature with as little light as possible while you're trying to sleep.
(1) regular exercise;
(2) limiting your intake of caffein;
(3) avoiding cold water during the night so as not to disrupt the digestive system;
(4) eating an early dinner;
(5) getting into a regular sleep routine; and
(6) keeping your bedroom at a cool, comfortable temperature with as little light as possible while you're trying to sleep.
In addition to these tips, they also stressed the importance of finding a comfortable pillow and mattress. Unfortunately, we can't help with finding the right mattress but we do offer a number of high-quality pillows that are sure to maximize your comfort level while sleeping.
Our pillows stuffed with organic shredded rubber (made by Pure Rest) are a great choice because you can move the stuffing, just as you would a buckwheat-fill pillow, to create just the right amount of support for your head and neck.
Pure Rest also takes great pride in their pillows stuffed with certified organic wool, which we carry in various weights and sizes to suit your preferences. Light fill is recommended for back sleepers, medium fill for side sleepers, and heavy fill for larger folks or for those who prefer a bit of a lift.
Whether you opt for the organic wool or organic rubber filling you can sleep easy knowing that your head is resting on a chemical-free pillow designed with your health and comfort in mind. Wishing you and your family a great holiday Monday and a great start to the fall season filled with lots of good quality rest!
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