I used to be a dancer. Not that I no longer dance (‘cause I’ll still be the last one off the dance floor at any wedding) but I mean that for over 10 years growing up I took dance classes five days a week – ballet, tap, jazz, you name it. Once I started university though, dance lessons fell by the wayside and while I still loved dance, there just didn’t seem the time to commit to classes.

Fast forward ten years and I find that whenever I go out on a limb and attend a drop-in dance class I’m quickly reminded of the amazing things my body used to be able to do and what it strains to do now.

That’s where yoga comes in.

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I’ve always had an easier time than most with the sun. Maybe it’s my olive skin, maybe it’s that I can wear long sleeves in high heat. I also believe in hats and shade. Some would argue that my motorcycle gear and helmet is my favourite protection. So, I wasn’t sure our Sun Sense broad-spectrum sunscreen was going to be a big addition to the products I am passionate about.

Then, to make matters worse, came this years reluctant Vancouver summer, but there was this family wedding in Toronto. And Kate (my wife and Co-Founder of Saje) decided to invite 16 nieces and nephews to the beach. I organized a soccer game and then it was time to take my shirt off and put sun protection on. What a relief it was to be free of the petrochemicals and fake coconut smells. In fact, the great Lavender smell made the application a joy.

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Dear Green Mama: I want to compost, but I am a single woman, living alone in a tiny one bedroom apartment on the 15th floor. I want something super easy that won’t smell up my beautiful new abode.

Dear High on Compost: I love composting. I know, organic decays isn’t a turn-on for everyone, but it does have the potential; and for good reason. Organic items — things you could compost and turn into soil — make up 40% of the garbage in most homes, the largest single item. (Unless you are a parent, where disposable diapers make up about half of a home’s waste stream.) If done right, a good deal or ALL of your kitchen waste can be turned into soil.

Composting Made Simple

What is composting? The basic process is simple: organic waste (think kitchen scraps, plant material, manure, etc) biodegrades into fertilizer. It is an aerobic process (requires oxygen) and is assisted by various microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi and in some cases worms. The process varies a bit from system to system, from leaves slowly turning into soil on the forest floor to my compostable diapers being turned into fertilizer in 24 hours in my Electric Assist Composter, The Red Dragon.

I’ve tried every kind of composting: from traditional piles to flashy worm bins (vermicompost). I love compost. You can read in-depth about all the options available for urban composting here. From your question, however, I assume you have NO yard so my advice is you pursue an indoor system. The two easiest options for you would be either vermicompost or a composting appliance. Read on!

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Who doesn’t love party food? Any shindig you’ve ever been to where you had to shove your way through the packed kitchen just to reach the last crab cake as someone else snatches it from right under your nose, can answer that question.

We love to fill our bellies—and parties—with all manner of tasty treats: Bite size morsels with varieties of flavors to delight each of your tastebuds, fruit and veggie trays, and all manner of dips and spreads to make crackers and breads even more scrumptious.

These recipes for three simple three-ingredient spreads take minutes to make. Whip up one, two or all three (if you’re really going for the WOW factor) for your next get together. They’re made from ingredients you can find right in your pantry—perfect for a gathering of unexpected guests. Of course, there’s no harm in making them just for you, (and not sharing) either.

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Dear Green Mama: My family and I live in North Florida. My son has asthma and allergies and he is attending public school in the fourth grade. His teacher refuses to remove her plug in air fresheners. I sent a note to this teacher and a note from his doctor explaining my son’s asthma and offered to buy something less offending to his health. She responded saying she has been a teacher for 28 years and never had a problem, she will not teach in a musty room and did not feel complete without perfume.

Dear P.U. in FL: What a tough, but not unique situation. Many children are experiencing asthma and allergy flare-ups due to indoor air pollution in schools. I can read in your question that this is now impacting you and your son directly. It sounds like you are working to have open communication with your school administration and teacher, but without much change.

At The Green Mama, our best successes have been through education; often times people are unaware of the negative health impacts of synthetic fragrances and the risks to children from indoor air pollution. It sounds like the air fresheners might not be the only issue and that mold or other issues may be an underlying cause of the musty smell.

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Saje’ s Seven Oak s Shopping Centre in Abbotsford, BC was awarded First Place for their kiosk design in the Visual Victories Awards. These annual awards recognize the outstanding work done by exceptional visual merchandisers, retailers and specialty leasing agents. Here’s what the judges had to say about Saje’s kiosk.

The open layout of this kiosk is attractive and allows customers to move freely through the area while shopping. The green rugs define the area well and provide a nice contrast to the dark display cases. The cases are well designed and the rounded shelves of the corner units create interest and are beautifully merchandised. The tall signposts allow for signage at each corner that is visible from all angles. Connie Nichols of Glimcher, points out that these signposts are unique, elegant and functional since they also provide lighting for the area. Notice that they are patterned like garden units further emphasizing the “wellness” aspects of the products the kiosk sells.

Not getting our dose of Vitamin D’s at this time of year can cause a slew of nasty mood and sleep challenges! Pick up some natural tips on how to boost your inner sunshine on even the grayest of days!

Here in Vancouver, I console myself as the clouds roll in again…maybe next weekend it’ll be sunny. Strange weather has everybody’s systems at odd ends. When the barometer rises or falls suddenly, we are at increased risk for headaches, sleeplessness and mood swings…not to mention we’re all a bit stir-crazy from a long winter!
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One of my favorite afternoon (well, anytime really) treats is the Power Cookie from Whole Foods. They are packed with all kinds of delicious goodness, and even come in a vegan option without the chocolate chips. Recently, I have been on the search for a recipe that replicates these tasty little morsels. I came across this recipe on All Recipes this morning and I can’t wait to give it a try. It has Cannellini Beans in it, so it should be interesting!

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Written by Brianne DiSylvester
Photography by Muffet

Dogs are very nurturing animals, especially when it comes to their owners. You always hear about dogs saving their human companions, and the latest story to hit the headlines is about a dog who kept a missing boy safe, warm and alive when the little boy got lost in the woods. Another way dogs protect and save is by sniffing out and detecting diseases in humans.

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Giving back to the community has always been a part of Saje – and we often do this by offering our customers the opportunity to participate in charitable donations when they purchase certain items.

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