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When I was growing up, my grandmother was a very strong influence in my life. One of the things that I will always remember about her is how she was so compassionate about those who were less fortunate and how she always gave to them in whatever way she could. This is a lesson I have happily brought into my adulthood and I am, in a way, instilling a little bit of my grandmother’s values into my children.
Raising my children to be empathetic towards others and teaching them that because they have doesn’t mean everyone else does is very important to me. They are still very young, so I teach them about why and how we should give with very age appropriate actions. As they grow older, I look forward to exploring other ways, but for now, we do simple things they can understand. If you are looking for easy things you can do introduce your child to giving back, hopefully you can find some inspiration here:
By doing these simple things with them now, my hope is that being compassionate becomes a way of life for them and that they continue to do good for others throughout their lives.
What types of activities do you do with your children to teach them the importance of giving back?
When I first bought our artificial Christmas tree many years ago, I didn’t know a whole lot about eco-friendliness or about the safety issues I needed to consider. Now that I am in the know, I am faced with this dilemma: What kind of tree is better for the environment and healthier for my family? A real tree or an artificial tree?
These Christmas Tree Alternatives Will Add Joy To Your World
With the holiday season quickly approaching, I need to make a decision soon because our Christmas tree has seen better days. It’s the first tree I bought after getting married and it’s the only tree my children have ever known—but it’s time.
I did some research, and put together a pros and cons list. Here is what I found:
Real Christmas Tree Pros
Artificial Christmas Tree Pros
Real Christmas Tree Cons
Note: Organic, pesticide-free trees do exist, but I was not able to find many Canadian-based sources other than this Vancouver organic tree farm.
Artificial Christmas Tree Cons
Another option is to buy or rent a live potted tree. Once the holiday season is over, it is replanted in the ground and then dug up again when the next holiday season rolls around. I was only able to find two Canadian rental companies, both based in Vancouver. Check out Evergrow Christmas Trees Co. or CarbonSync. If you want to buy one and replant it on your own property each year, inquire about this option with your local nurseries.
So, after weighing all the pros and cons, I'm leaning towards a real tree. In the end, the choice is one that only you can make, basing your decision on how much weight you place on each of the points listed above.
What kind of tree will you be using this year? Why?
Back when I started to switch over to natural body/beauty care and safer household cleaning products, there weren’t very many resources around for me to turn to. As a result, I spent countless hours reading and researching everything I could get my hands on so I could learn what was considered safe and what wasn’t.
Nowadays, if you decide that you want to make these changes, it’s so much easier because there are many trusted places you can turn to get reliable information such as the Environmental Defence website.
The Environmental defence is an excellent Canadian resource to visit if you are looking for information on environmental issues, product info, ingredient info, and so much more.
On Wednesday November 21, the Environmental Defence is holding its third Just Beautiful Eco-Beauty Market in Toronto.
At the Eco-Beauty Market, you’ll be able to shop for safe beauty and body care products. And the best part? You can shop with peace of mind. No need to second-guess if something is safe and no need to study labels because everything is approved by the Environmental Defence and is guaranteed to be safe from what is deemed to be their Toxic Ten. You will also be able to sample products, meet with eco-experts, learn makeup and hair tips from green beauty experts, and more! Fun!
WHEN: Wednesday, November 21, 2012
WHERE: Central YMCA, Auditorium, 20 Grosvenor St., Toronto
TIME: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
COST: FREE! But you must RSVP in order to attend. (RSVPing also enters your name in a draw to win prizes!)
What Companies Will Be There? Click for the full list of companies participating the Eco-Beauty Market.
Don’t forget to bring your own bag and your holiday shopping list! It will be a great spot to pick up non-toxic holiday beauty gifts for you and your family. If you do go, come back here and tell me all about it!