Enlightening Jewels
Hoping for some good karma to come your way? Why not show your intention with a little bling from The Sonja Picard Collection? Designed and made here in Lotusland, Sonja Picard’s jewellery is inspired by the tantric tradition of bodily adornment to reveal a woman’s inner beauty. In the new, limited-edition Karma Yoga series, sterling silver pendants carry divine messages to take you further along the path of enlightenment, with all profits going to local and international charities. Unlike other donations, these necklaces let you stay connected to the cause every time you put them on—perhaps not a completely selfless endeavour, but certainly a good start. Available through sonjapicard.com [1].
—Erica Gehrke

Ethical Togs for Ethical Tykes

Little Olivia’s first words might not be the showstopper “sweatshop-free,” but you can still dress her for the part. Your ethical tot will love her new duds from Ya for Kids, a progressive and fun clothing company for kids aged six months to two years, located right here in Vancouver. Many of the colourfully patterned fabrics are sourced from employee-owned mills, and the shipping boxes are made from recycled materials. And all that goodwill won’t cost you much: the company strives to keep costs down by selling all their goods through their online store. If you’re lucky, when she’s happily frolicking in her new fleece jacket, Olivia’s second words could very well be “Ya for Mom!” Available at yaforkids.com [2].
—Jennifer Croll

Organic Matters

You know that good looks start on the inside, so you eat organic fruits and veggies, get eight hours’ sleep, breathe fresh air, and drink plenty of water. But it turns out beauty is partly skin deep. Since our skin is our primary organ for absorption, Elroy designer and vegan Vancouverite Leanne McElroy believes that wellness depends as much on what we put on ourselves as what we take in. Elroy’s stylish, eco-friendly clothing made of bamboo and organic cotton avoids the use of toxic chemicals or fertilizers. This sophisticated street wear proves that organic is a beautiful thing. Available at Twigg and Hottie (3671 Main St.), Shop Cocoon (3345 Cambie St.), Riot (1395 Commercial Dr.), and elroyapparel.com [3].
—EG

Immaculate Conception

Move over, Mr. Clean: Mother Nature is stepping in to make our houses spic and span—the chemical-free way. Aspen Clean, a home cleaning service in West Vancouver, sources and analyzes all its products to ensure they are unscented, non-toxic, and 100 per cent natural. The company has also ditched rags and sponges for microfibre wipes, which are denser and therefore pick up more dirt and grime. Once the job is done, instead of those sketchy “pine” or “lemon” smells lingering in the air, the only thing left behind is the sweet scent of botanical essential oils, which pull double duty by both disinfecting the house and soothing clients’ nerves. The result: a sparkling, dust-free home that will have everyone breathing easy. Info: aspenclean.com [4] or 604-925-9900.
—Tamara Letkeman

Stop the Flash

Does it get any worse than a hot flash in the middle of giving a presentation at work, or even while picking up groceries? It might, but that’s little consolation for those of us dealing with this uncomfortable reality of menopause. Fortunately, help is on the way with a new product made for women, by women: StopFlash. This all-natural oral remedy, made from a unique blend of black cohosh, dong quai, licorice root, and other herbal ingredients, is proving effective in fighting back. Tests show that within minutes—and in some instances, seconds—of inhaling the spray, hot flashes subside and skin returns to normal. So you can stay cool, knowing you don’t have to worry about stripping down at work again. Available at Supplement Plus (650 W. 41st Ave.) and Country Health (1199 Lynn Valley Rd., North Vancouver). Info: puritylife.com [5].
—Tara Campbell

Between the Naturally Dyed Sheets

You’re all tucked in with a bowl of popcorn, ready to start a movie, and breaking the rules of eating in bed and snacking too late. But your conscience is put at ease: after all, it’s organic popcorn, and heck, even the sheets in which you commit such folly are organic, thanks to Emily Carr grad Leah Weinstein. Weinstein’s Tenfold Organic Textiles offers customers 100 per cent naturally dyed organic sheets, quilts, towels, and fabric by the yard. She’s also launching men’s and women’s clothing lines in spring/summer 2008. Now that’s looking at the big picture in style. Available at tenfoldorganic.com [6].
—TC

Up In Arms

For those of you who think chemical- and fragrance-laden deodorants are the pits, get a whiff of this: underarm protection made entirely with plant-based ingredients and scented only with certified organic essential oils. Courtesy of Plant and Planet, purveyors of all-natural solid-stick deodorants, lab-made ingredients like cyclomethicone and prop-ylparaben have been replaced with nature’s own wildcrafted lichen and white willow to have you come out smelling like roses—or almost—with choices like Lavender Geranium, Moroccan Cedarwood, and Orange Petitgrain. And vegans and animal-lovers take note: no furry friends are used in the testing of these products. Our armpits—and the people we love to hug—have never had it so good. Available at Finlandia Natural Pharmacy (1964 W. Broadway), Queensdale Supermarket (3030 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver), Planet Organic Market (10-2755 Lougheed Hwy., Port Coquitlam), and plantandplanet.com [7].
—TL

Pretty and Polished

You loved the shiny, candy-apple red coat of paint on your high-school boyfriend’s hotrod, and after that 20-year reunion, you’ve decided to paint your nails crimson in homage to puppy love. Well, as Frankie says: Relax, don’t do it. (Unless it’s safe, that is!) Pick up some all-natural polish from Nature’s Creations Aromatherapy, and prettify those digits without all the nasty chemicals. While you’re at the store/day spa, check out the fresh-scented organic body lotions, exfoliants, and soaps—and if those scarlet nails have made you particularly passionate, consider the massage oils. Frankie would approve. Available at Nature’s Creations Aromatherapy (205 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver) or visit ncaromatherapy.com [8].
—JC