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Technology is fun, but it has a downside. Negative electronic pollution emitted from everyday items such as cell phones, Blackberries, and PDAs can cause stress, sleep troubles, and purportedly (gasp!) even premature aging. Luckily, you don’t have to make like the Unabomber and spend your life in solitary rural cabin confinement to escape the toxic bleeps that surround you. Fight fire with fire with a new watch that’s part James Bond, part new age, and part high fashion. Designed by Ilonka Harezi, the Philip Stein Teslar watch combines the latest technology—a patented mobius coil that repels electronic pollution—with luxury gold and diamond stylings. Dubbed “sunscreen for the soul,” this is arm candy with a purpose. Oh, and it tells the time, too. Available at Holt Renfrew, 604-681-3121. —Hadani Ditmars
They’re tiny, sweet, and pack a powerful punch: goji berries are the unassuming little superheroes of the food world. The bright-red dried berries (which have been compared to both desiccated cherries and cranberries in flavour) contain the highest quantity of antioxidants in any food—more than 10 times that found in blueberries and more than 25 times that in broccoli. Not only that, they’re also full of amino acids, vitamin C, and vitamin A, among other nutrients. To top it all off, in traditional Chinese medicine, they’re associated with longevity, strength, and sexual potency. Make no mistake, the Tibetan and Himalayan varieties are named that way as a marketing tool, so when you’re making a choice, look for high-quality organic berries; we like the kind from B.C. company Two Hills Tea. Can you say pretty-please with a goji berry on top? Available at 
No, no, we’re not talking about spinach. We all know we should eat our veggies, but we frequently forget the importance of the fifth food group—chocolate. Make sure you’re getting this necessary nutrient the best possible way. This Easter, pass up the icky candy bunnies and invest in a few bars of Green and Black’s instead. These English chocolatiers have mastered the skill of combining sheer decadence with organic ingredients and ethical principles. Two of our faves are 70% Dark (a silkily sinful delight with lots of cocoa) and Maya Gold (a rich, dark chocolate with orange and spice). Chocolate this good may not give you big, bulging muscles, but it’ll satisfy you in a way that spinach never could. Sorry, Popeye, it had to be said. Available at local quality grocers. —JC
Tired of spiritless stores and impersonal service? Then you’ll want to check out Sacred Space—a one-stop-shop for mind, body, and soul. Awash in natural light and welcoming vibes, this downtown haven is part boutique, part lounge, and part holistic centre. Its certified practitioners and supportive staff provide a warm atmosphere for expanding self-knowledge, exploring metaphysics, celebrating song, or decompressing by the fireside with a specialty tea. Good retail therapy too, Sacred Space has delightful fashions, beauty products, books, and creations by local artisans. 100–27 West Pender. To register for classes and learn about upcoming events: 
“There is so much talk about organic and sustainable, but how about zero waste?” asks Lindsey Keegan, designer of Egg Clothing. In the fall, Keegan and partner Rich Nguyen took this to heart, creating a clothing line based on squares and rectangles that were draped to make full use of new and recycled fabrics. For spring, the commitment continues with the worker shirt series. Lightweight cotton worker shirts have been repurposed into dresses with peekaboo backs and sleeves as belts. A vest is constructed from layer upon layer of epaulets; and for a fresh take on the blue collar, there is a flapper-inspired shirt made of leftover collars. The one-of-a-kind conceptual pieces sell well in England; Vancouverites can try a reworked shirt hoodie. Egg also offers wardrobe surgery. Simply bring Keegan and Nguyen your old clothes and they will happily revamp them. But don’t be surprised if you recognize your patterned cuffs in their fall 2007 line of fashion-forward and imaginative clothes. Info: 
What do gardeners dream of? Giant beanstalks? The perfect topiary? Large green men who say “Ho ho ho”? Actually, the answer is much simpler: they dream of soft hands. And, thus, the Gardener’s Dream Cream was born. This magical lotion can help to ease a number of skin problems, from rashes to eczema to simple dryness. Enriched with 100 per cent organic essential oils and vitamins A and E, it’s also nourishing for other parts of you; some people use it to condition their hair and others use it as a massage cream. Amazingly multipurpose, it truly is the stuff of dreams. Available at Choices, Capers, Finlandia, or 
Reincarnation isn’t only for animate objects. Thanks to Car Heaven, an initiative of the Clean Air Foundation, your old clunker can be redeemed and recycled. Car Heaven—which operates nationally and has recently expanded its service across B.C.—will tow your gas-guzzler for free and guarantee that it’s recycled in an environmentally responsible manner. The aim—getting polluting vehicles off the road in favour of more environmentally friendly models—is a good one. But if you’re at all sentimental about your old beater (clue: have you named it?), then read their website with care. The meticulous description of the drainage of operating fluids and the dismantling of parts and components recalls the scene from the film 2001, when Hal the Computer meets an untimely end. But at least your clunker’s useful bits will live on—minus the hazardous materials, of course. Info: 
Colourful costumes, sexy strength, and confident performances in a surreal setting; it could be a trapeze artist swinging from the big top or it could be the latest spring collection at Riot. The Commercial Drive boutique caters to customers with a sense of themselves and their environment. So, for spring, the newly renovated store features midi-length dresses and short shorts in bright shades, white, and prints of plaid, dots, and gingham. Designs from local labels Twice Shy, Mia Melon, and Lily & Jae perform for the season but are more than a novelty act. Much of the fashion is made of sustainable materials. Here, Sofia Stancioff wears Mavi organic cotton jeans, a Sunday Social bamboo hoodie, a Colcci lyocell apron top, a Mimibe enamel bird necklace, and an Echoes in the Attic recycled fabric bag. The big-top fashions will walk the tightrope at Riot’s Join the Circus fashion show. On April 6, 8 pm at the Anza Club, expect DJ F-you-B, clown Nettie Plumbert, circus performers, popcorn, and balloons. And plan your outfit around clown noses for all guests. Riot is at 1395 Commercial Drive, 604-254-5073. —SM 
