Better Sweaters
Remember your favourite wool sweater? You know, the snuggly one that hugged you in all the right places and kept you warm on chilly days? The one you banished to the Sally Ann when it got a little ragged? Don’t feel guilty: now you can renew your romance with old wool with Mod to Modern in a way you never thought possible. The local designer takes pre-loved sweaters, cuts them apart, mixes and matches patterns and knits, and refashions them into totally new styles (including mini versions for your puppy!). Recycling has never been so stylish—and neither has argyle. Available at Hum Clothing (3623 Main St.) and Dream Designs (956 Commercial Dr.) Info: modtomodern.com . —Jennifer Croll

Eco Jot, Eco Thought
Note to self: Give to charity… join a gym… lighten my carbon footprint… eat an organic diet. If you’re having a hard time remembering all your New Year’s resolutions, try writing down your good intentions in an ecojot journal. The made-in-Canada line of stationery is created using 100-per-cent post-consumer waste paper (translation: no trees are cut down). Every sketchbook, notebook, and flip pad is made from chlorine- and acid-free paper, and printed with vegetable-based inks. The eye-catching covers, which include cutesy bird patterns, flowers, bold stripes, and festive polka dots, will make you want to keep them with you at all times—perfect reminders for whenever you find yourself reaching for a doughnut… or skipping yoga class… or buying tungsten bulbs... Find ecojot products at Paper-Ya (Granville Island), Eastside Stationery & Art (1458 Commercial Dr.), and Banyen Books (3608 W. Fourth Ave.). Info: ecojot.com . —Erica Gehrke

Bottoms Up, Baby
What do you do when a product you want doesn’t exist? Well, if you’re Lalabee Bathworks’ Sara Johnson, you simply make it yourself. While pregnant with her daughter, Johnson searched high and low for baby skin care products without chemicals, dyes, petroleum, or preservatives, but came up woefully short. So she started hand-crafting her own line of skin-soothing products made from natural, organic, and local ingredients like beeswax, lavender flowers, and olive oil. From the bottom balm made especially for newborns (it clears up diaper rash in a flash and is one of the company’s most popular products) to milk baths and a body balm for fussy sleepers, Lalabee Bathworks has got your baby covered without breaking the bank. Bonus: all the containers are recyclable. Available at lalabeebathworks.com . —Sondi Bruner

Ex-Squeeze Me?
Every woman knows she’s supposed to do monthly breast self-exams, but how many of us actually follow through? And how do we know if we’re even doing it right? Monica Park, an RN who did hospice work with women dying of breast cancer, hooked up with Plexus Pink to offer Breast Chek kits for easy, early detection. Here’s how it works: there’s a non-toxic lubricant encased between two thin layers of polyurethane. The bottom layer stays stable, while the top layer moves easily over your breast tissue and increases tactile sensitivity—making it infinitely simpler for your fingers to detect lumps and other irregularities. As Monica preaches, early detection can save your life, so don’t be shy—give the girls a squeeze! Visit plexuspink.com to find out more; then contact Monica at parkmr@xplornet.com to get a kit for $29.99 —SB

It’s Been a Slice
After working all day, running errands, and hitting the gym, the last thing a girl wants to do when she gets home is slave away in the kitchen—but she doesn’t want to chow down on fast food either. Enter Sliced Tomatoes, Vancouver’s only ready-to-cook meal delivery service. The meals are designed by an in-house nutritionist, are prepared with fresh, organic, and local ingredients, come with simple cooking instructions, and—best of all—are delivered right to your doorstep. This year, the company has gone green by recycling, composting, using smaller vehicles for delivery, and joining the Vancouver Aquarium’s sustainable seafood program. So you can savour your herb-crusted B.C. sockeye salmon or vegan lentil curry with the knowledge that your new fast food is easier on the planet. Start salivating at slicedtomatoes.ca . —SB

Plastic Ain’t Their Bag

Scrunchy white plastic bags emblazoned with garish supermarket logos: Stylish? We think not! Lose those landfill-cloggers, darling, and schlep your groceries in some- thing that complements your impeccably sustainable taste. Our personal faves are GreenOne reusable bags, locally made totes made with all-natural fibres. For a trendy-casual look, try shouldering the company’s o.n.e. bag, made from sturdy organic cotton and printed with funky designs. If your look is a little more polished, consider the glossy Soho bag, sewn from a blend of silk and hemp. Both styles are versatile enough to take you from the market, to the yoga studio, out for dinner, and back home again. Available at Twigg & Hottie (3671 Main St.), Granville Island Organix (1812 Boatlift Lane), and Room 6 (4389 Gallant Ave., North Vancouver). Info: greenoneventures.com . —JC

Word Power
Define a word, feed the world! Sound a little too easy? Well, it’s not. The next time you’re online, tear yourself away from virtual Scrabble and check out Free Rice. This website feeds you a word and gives you four possible definitions. For every correct definition you choose, the website donates 10 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program. Ten grains doesn’t sound like much, but just watch those bowls of rice fill up as you wrack your brain to come up with the most likely definitions for “colloquy,” “gloaming,” and “encephalon.” The donations are funded by adverts on the site, so you can feed hungry people in developing nations without even opening your wallet. As an added bonus, you just might increase your word power, so that when you eventually get back to the pressing task of Scrabble, you’ll be able to really preponderate over your opponent. At the very least, Free Rice will reinforce the meaning of the word “generosity.” Belly up at freerice.com . —JC

Clean and Green
Your girlfriends are on their way over for a fabulous organic dinner, but your kitchen is an unholy mess. Before you spoil your 100-per-cent-natural meal by using 100-per-cent-nasty chemical cleaners, reach for a bottle of Sapadilla’s All Purpose Cleaner instead. North shore residents Jill Goodbrand, the “Queen of Clean,” and environmental scientist Steve Carmichael joined forces to establish Sapadilla Soap Co., an ethical product line that not only accessorizes your countertop with its minimalist design aesthetic, but is truly Earth-and-body friendly. Made with biodegradable, cruelty-free, plant-based ingredients like rosemary and peppermint essential oils, Sapadilla’s suds will keep your house clean and fresh—without the toxic side effects. Available at Whole Foods Market, Park Royal (North Vancouver) and Drive Organics (1045 Commercial Dr.). Info: sapadilla.com —EG