What? Dr. Seuss' The Lorax has been made into a movie?! I love this book and the powerful message it shares about taking and taking too much stuff. I read this story down in South Carolina to students taking part in our environmental education program - it's pretty moving stuff and a wake up call about our need to care for the world (nature included) around us. The movie is set to hit theatres in Canada on March 2.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Less Work, More Living... YES!!!!
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| Photo cred: Chris Suspect |
This first post back will be short and is meant to inspire. A friend recently shared a link to the below article over Facebook and, boy, did it strike a chord with me! "Less Work, More Living" from YES! Magazine is about thriving on less working hours (and less salary), spending more time with your family, friends and community and helping the economy out while doing it. It's worth some of your time to give it a read:
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| Photo cred: YES! Magazine |
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Smart tip: T-shirt Quilts
A few years ago, while working down in South Carolina, I spotted what I thought was the coolest looking blanket. It belonged to my friend and fellow staff member Callie and, drum roll please, it was a t-shirt quilt!! And she made it herself! I ogled the cool cut-outs of all the summer camps she'd worked at and various adventures that will be remembered with this quilt backed with cozy fleece. I was in t-shirt quilt heaven. So, I asked Callie to put her mad skillz to work. I had more than my share of shirts that I just couldn't get rid of even though they were on their way out, so this was a great way to reuse them in a cool way. It is my favourite blanket and gets compliments whenever people see it (photos above and below).
What do you need to make a t-shirt quilt?
- 20-25 t-shirts (more depending on how big you want your quilt to be)
- Patterned fabric to fill in the spaces (try going to Value Village or Goodwill to save buying new)
- Fabric for the edge and back of the quilt (fleece was a nice choice, but you may like something different)
- A sewer who knows how to quilt (and work with various t-shirt square sizes!)
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Watch: Forks over Knives
96 min.
Rating: PG
2011
Director: Lee Fulkerson
A good friend recommended that we go and see this new documentary a few Fridays ago. "It's about the vegan diet," she explained, and we both knew it would likely throw a few punches at the North American convenience food diet. What I didn't know was how much this film would effect me and have me seriously considering my current diet and its need for an overhaul.
FORKS OVER KNIVES is a documentary about the whole foods, plant-based diet and its ability to control or reverse degenerative diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and several types of cancer. This is done by rejecting the North American "menu" of animal-based and processed food. Not exactly a message most people might want to hear - and one that many would be skeptical about. The backbone of this documentary is built around research and studies conducted by two doctors: Dr. T. Colin Campbell, a nutritional scientist from Cornell University; and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, a former top surgeon at the world renowned Cleveland Clinic. Both doctors made some remarkable discoveries during the early years of their careers which later led them to conduct several groundbreaking studies such as one that took place in China and is considered one of the most comprehensive health-related studies of all time. The doc also shows results of this whole foods, plant-based diet by following real people with real diseases and shows their seemingly miraculous recoveries in large part due to their healthier diets.
This documentary is great in that it really challenges our mainstream way of thinking and looking at the food we eat everyday. It does come across as pretty biased against the government-backed "healthy" diet, which includes meat, dairy and can be argued to include processed foods, as well. Hopefully it inspires some important discussion about our current diet. It ideally would encourage more of us to look into what it is we are eating, start asking questions, and do a bit of research for ourselves. I, for one, feel pretty inspired by this whole food, plant-based diet, and would watch the documentary again because it is so packed with scientific info. and cool nutrition facts - it's hard to get it all in with just one viewing!
Interested in learning more about the whole food, plant-based diet and trying some recipes? I am, too! The FORKS OVER KNIVES website (listed below) will soon offer an online resource to help with this endeavor. In the meantime, here are some cookbooks the film's team recommends:
The McDougall Quick and Easy Cookbook ($25)
The Engine 2 Diet ($24.99)
Keep It Simple Keep It Whole ($19.99)
www.forksoverknives.com
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
City Delights: Chicago's Workshop
There are occasions when you stumble upon a great recommendation, you follow it through and end up patting yourself on the back for a job well done. That's how I felt when I made the trek out to the Pilsen neighbourhood when visiting Chicago this spring. My destination was a one hundred-year-old building with local artists' work in the windows and countless treasures inside. Welcome to Workshop...
This amazing shop opened its doors in 2009 and is the creation of designer Anne Novotny. Anne, or Annie as she also goes by, was at the shop when I stopped in on a Sunday. She was in the back of the studio, which really is a workshop, working on a floor-length, earthy gown for an upcoming show. Raw and glam-rock jewellery dress-up vintage mirrors and pieces of wood, Annie's own creations - Frei Designs - hang on the racks as do many other local/independently-made frocks and vintage purses line the walls.
Probably the coolest thing about Workshop is the philosophy behind it. Environmental sustainability and ethical practices make up the backbone of this business and recycled or repurposed materials that are ideally manufactured through fair trade are practices this shop endeavours to follow.
Oh, and I didn't leave without buying a beautiful summer shirt from Frei Designs (around $65) and an organic cotton, fair-trade tee from Alternative Earth ($30). Check out the online store for Workshop here:
www.workshop-chicago.com
Thursday, May 5, 2011
One of a Kind's: Biko and Jenna Rose
Biko - A little glamour, a little rock 'n' roll
One of the must-sees of mine at this year's Spring One of a Kind Show was hand-crafted jewellery amazingness from Biko. These "modern nostalgic" pieces have always caught my eye and I was not disappointed when visiting this stocked-up booth. Biko is a creation of Torontonian and designer Corinne Anestopoulos. She started Biko in 2004 and attributes her inspiration for wearable treasures to "priceless heirlooms, foreign travel and warm sunny days". I'm drawn to this line because of its local roots and unique statement it makes. Pieces range from simple studs to fabulous (and pricier - $100+) necklaces.
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| Biko earrings I bought at the show: $35 (left) and $25 (right) each... may no longer be available :( |
A handmade find that I was glad to stumble across the One of a Kind Show was screen-printed fabrics by Jenna Rose. This textile studio was started in 2006 just north of Toronto in Guelph, Ontario, and features hand-drawn designs by Rose that are then printed on "natural" or organic materials. My good friend and I spent quite a while ogling the cute bicycle adorned scarves and tree house tea towels. I think Rose has done some nice work, here, and look forward to see her future fabrics at upcoming shows.
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| Organic cotton scarf $36 USD on Etsy. |
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Distill Gallery
A shop that I've really liked visiting and shopping at in the Distillery District is Distill Gallery (55 Mill St.). What makes this gallery extra special is its focus on quality and funky one-of-a-kind treasures from pottery to jewellery and amazing clothing items from Canadian designers.
The works showcased in Distill Gallery are original handmade items by local talent... I love the beer bottles made into drinking glasses by Terry Craig and the Canadiana jewellery by Wine on Sundays. What about the dresses by Valerie Dumaine? Amazing.
Another bonus is the great location this shop is in. It's an outing in itself and allows you to walk around this historic area in the city with a coffee in hand. Fun! Distill Gallery also reminds me of the Oneofakind Show coming up this March 30 to April 3 where you will find many of the artists, craftspeople and designers sharing even more of their fun collections. Check it out!
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