Keira-anne.com

I live for Fridays. Actually, scratch that - I live for weekends. I relish time spent in quiet; completely un-rushed. Waking in the morning with sunlight spilling all over the floor, crisp coffee, pajamas until noon, leg warmers, movie marathons and time to do whatever I please to do (or not do). This weekend is no exception.

Amy and I have planned a “doggy date” with three little munchkins in the sunshine that Vancouver is supposed to be blessed with tomorrow. Also this weekend marks a birthday, so I am honoured with the duty of spending all of Sunday in the kitchen, cooking and baking up a storm. Truth be told, the Martha Stewart in me adores the task and I’m more than excited about it.

In the spirit of all things Friday at 5pm, here’s a little link love to kick off your weekend…

I’ve been waiting on pins and needles for this weekend’s Green Living Show at BC Place Stadium. Educating myself, particularly with respect to subjects that fit in with my values, has always been something I’ve held in high importance. I’m always excited to go on adventures with Becky, and this was no exception. My plan was to review the show, share some pictures and point you, my readers, in some interesting directions (if you planned on visiting the show). However, it turned out that there was so much to learn, see, do, take in and read about that to re-cap it all in one post will be impossible.

That being said, I plan on creating a series of posts which will appear here and on the frogblog over on the happyfrog website, breaking down some of the ideas shared, products presented and anything else that I think will be beneficial and of interest to you all.

The truth is, sustainable living is something that can be applied to a part of nearly every facet of everyday life, from food and clothing to transportation and construction. Each and every one of us are responsible for doing our part, and to do so is much easier than most may realize. Even just changing one aspect of your life is a change for the better, whether it be eating locally-produced vegetables or incorporating more eco-friendly fabrics into your wardrobe (bamboo is terrific and irresistibly soft). Organic beer is even an option if you just need to take baby steps!

That being said, here’s a look at some of the shenanigans us ladies got up to:

Here’s a quick list of particular booths, products, ideas and services I recommend checking out:

Also, make sure you stop by the Clear FM booth and enter for a chance to win a $2,000 “Eco-Dream Deluxe Bedroom Makeover” from Dream Designs, including 1 queen size organic cotton supreme futon mattress, 1 queen size organic cotton sateen sheet set & duvet cover, 2 standard size organic buckwheat comfort cloud pillows, 2 standard size kapok filled pillows, 1 bamboo filled duvet, 1 hemp shower curtain and delivery anywhere in Vancouver.

Two final pieces of very important advice I leave you with:

1. Though you will be tempted to try samples of all the foods and beverages you see, once your tummy is full of no less than organic chocolate, organic beer, coconut oil, hemp butter, organic wine and hemp milk, that same tummy will be very, very angry with you.

2. The guy running the Zipcar booth is very cute.

If you’ve been incessantly scratching your head, attempting to figure out ways in which you can incorporate a little bit more green living into your life, you may be interested in checking out The Green Living Show. From February 29 until March 2, more than 200 globe-friendly companies will be displaying their wares and ideas at BC Place Stadium. Dedicated to “information, innovation and inspiration,” the Green Living Show has a wealth of ideas and information for those who already live a wholly green lifestyle and those who are wondering where to begin.

Adult ticket prices are $10.50 online and $12.00 at the door. Please visit The Green Living Show’s website for more information on vendors, tickets, location, green tips and more.

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It seems that I’ve been watching a lot of classic British cinema lately, and I believe I’ve found a new love in doing so. Last week I finished the entirety of the BBC’s ‘Pride and Prejudice‘ from 1995 starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle. My first thought as the credits rolled was “forget ‘Dirty Dancing’ because this is my favourite new love story.” How I never saw it before this year is beyond me because it’s a fantastically acted movie that tells a smile-inducing story. The tension and chemistry between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett is perfection. That being said, I have no desire to see the recently released version starring quite possibly one of my least favourite actresses, mostly due to the fact that you can’t build on perfection, so the 2005 film would be nothing but a let-down.

Photo: BBC/Television Heaven

A few nights ago I began watching a BBC mini-series that was released in 1971, “Elizabeth R,” which chronicles the rise, rule and reign that Queen Elizabeth I held over England in the mid-1500s. In what is said to be the most accurate portrayal of England’s beloved Queen, the incomparable Glenda Jackson commands the audience to watch and be enamored.

What I love most about this film, besides the fascinating story, is the acting. By way of their exuberant motions and movements, it is rather obvious that the majority of those playing in the film are quality British stage actors who rely heavily on their bodies to convey their character. What is most brilliant about this is that they could all be performing this film on a sound stage in nothing more than jeans and t-shirts, free of props, and the film would still be just as engaging.

The winter brings about the most perfect weather for diving into cinematic classics, so I’d suggest tackling this one if you’re up to the task. Because let me tell you, those Brits are most certainly dedicated to their craft.

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The second Kokanee Day For Dudes of 2008 is happening this Friday at Mount Washington, which is reason enough for Becky and I to make the trek to Vancouver Island. For 59 bucks, men can ride, take a lesson and enjoy some apres good times in the lodge, sponsored by Kokanee. Did I mention you also get to oggle Becky and myself when you catch glimpses of us shredding up there?

Some points for Thursday morning…

Clap your hands and say “yeah!” for Capers and Whole Foods markets. After April 22, 2008, which coincidentally enough is also Earth Day, you’ll have to bring your own bags to fill with your grocery booty or buy their reusable bags. Cheers to keeping plastic out of the landfill!

The City of Vancouver is making it much tougher for you to be lazy when it comes to taking care of your community (and your planet). As of January 1, 2008, new garbage restrictions in Metro Vancouver will limit what you can stack at the curb or toss into the garbage bins behind your apartment.

Photo courtesy of unity.project on Flickr

The following items are strictly banned when it comes to tossing it in the trash:

For more information, please visit the City of Vancouver’s website.

I still have yet to find a composting solution for downtown living aside from worm composting. If anyone has any ideas, solutions or knows of a downtown location at which to rid of compost materials, please e-mail me at keira at keira-anne dot com or leave a message in the comments.

I am very, very excited to say that I made my first happyfrog purchase after work tonight as part of the shopping shenanigans that Dave put a couple girls up to.

A few weeks ago I wrote about some really great, locally-made cloth bags that are useful for pretty much anything. In particular, I was rather fond of the “F*@k Plastic” design.

This and all the bags from BYOB collection were designed and manufactured in Vancouver by Jenny Hughes and Elizabeth Clark, whose philosophy behind the bags is simple and straight to the point: “There is an overwhelming use of plastic bags littering the earth and bringing your own bag is the immediate solution.”

Our product mission is to provide people with the best selection of reusable shopping bags that combine fashion, style, quality, and awareness.

On the weekend, Becky mentioned that she’d picked up a reusable bag herself, and at a bargain price. While BYOB bags cost more than a pretty penny (mine rang in at a little over $45 and change with tax), their purpose is to go beyond the practical and bring sustainability into the fashion realm. And the cotton…luxuriously soft!

I picked my bag up at Farfalla in Gastown (located at 57 East Cordova). Check out BYOB’s website to order directly or scope out their list of local retailers near you. Click here to view happyfrog.ca’s listing.

I can’t wait to go grocery shopping!

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And while on the topic of pretty things, I got an early Christmas present today from my darling friend Andrew. We met a few years ago through mutual friends, and it took next to no time to realize that we had oh-so-very-much in common. I’ll never forget the day I met him, if only for the fact that he was wearing two belts and I thought it rather peculiar that anyone would wear two belts with an otherwise seemingly normal outfit. Though looking back, it was rather suiting that he had one little quirk about his appearance because there is something entirely unique and wonderful about his personality too.

He has indeed been a good friend to me over the years, one who always, always, always has my back and supports me in anything I do. So to him I say bon voyage, Merry Christmas and merci beaucoup, mon ami. Je t’aime.

When I was a little girl, our family always trekked onto the snow-blanketed farm at my Uncle Alfons’s and picked out the most beautiful tree we could find for Christmas. I loved bringing it home and decorating each and every branch with all things twinkley and bright. What I loved even more was the rich scent that filled every corner of our house.

In the last ten years or so, it seems that Christmas has instead become a time to pay hommage to Radiohead with a fake, plastic tree in our household.

My family isn’t the only one to take on the ideal that it’s better to have a fake, reusable tree rather than cutting down a real one each year. However, if we really get to the “root” of things, it doesn’t seem as though that’s the case.

Photo courtesy of Janet Moore-Call on Flickr

Dr. Faisal Moola of the David Suzuki Foundation supports an excellent case for trimming a real tree each Christmas rather than hauling that big box out of storage.

“Real trees are far, far more superior environmentally than a plastic tree that is non-biodegradable and can’t be recycled,” he notes. “Most cities have programs where they will collect Christmas trees and pulp them or chip them and then they’ll use them as a growing medium in our parks and natural areas so the nutrients the tree acquired while it was growing are then returned back to the earth.”

Still not convinced? Time for a breakdown.

1. Real trees are biodegradable; fake, plastic trees are not. (Just make sure you remove all scraps of tinsel and garland when disposing of the tree).

2. Local Christmas tree farms grow the trees for this very specific purpose, and you can rest assured that as soon as you hack your tree down, another seedling is planted in its place.

3. Growing trees, whether in nature or on a Christmas tree farm, produces oxygen and absorbs carbon dioxide - your lungs will thank you (and the trees smell grrrrrrreat!)

4. Sure you can use your fake, plastic tree for a dozen Christmases, but did you give much thought to the environmental pollution generated to have that tree shipped to you from China? And further, even though it’s fake, the tree will ultimately still reach the end of it’s life and will simply be another chunk of non-biodegradable plastic in the landfill.

5. Shop for your tree at a local, sustainable Christmas tree farm and you’ll be supporting your local economy.

One of my favourite aspects to regularly blogging is all the networking opportunities you find, and better than that, the fantastic people you meet through said networking.

It goes without saying that blogging has certainly brought Rebecca and I into each others’ realms a little deeper, and through her I’ve met others who are passionate about many of the same things.

A couple months ago, I met her and John’s friend Dave at their place, and I was excited to learn that not only does he care about many of the same global issues that I do, but he’s part of a group that is actively doing something about it. Enter happyfrog:

“happyfrog is a fresh and fun interactive web site designed to leverage the collective knowledge of our community to create an indispensable new resource for bringing about change – in our personal lives and across the planet.

…

Our vision for happyfrog is that it will become a home for a community of values-aligned members who happily enrich each other’s lives simply by sharing information about their favorite things.

For many, there is still a gap between our growing knowledge of the challenges that our planet faces and our ability to act on our concerns each day. happyfrog was created to help us close that gap.”

- From www.happyfrog.ca

What makes this initiative so exciting for me is that I have, in recent months, been supporting the ideas of shopping locally and also trying to stick to the 100-mile diet. I find that there are many, many people out there who genuinely desire to make changes in their day-to-day lives to better benefit this beautiful planet we live on, but often have no clue where to start or what they can do. This is what’s so great about happyfrog.

It’s a comprehensive online resource chalked full of B.C. companies and products “that make our corner of the world a little kinder, smarter, healthier, greener and more interesting.”

Since this little tadpole has recently only grown its webbed feet to start hopping, Dave thought it would be a great idea to get two local ladies (that being Rebecca and myself) on board to help show you, our readers, just how fantastic this project is and how easy it can be to use products and services that you’ll truly feel good about employing.

Armed with $100 each, over the coming weeks you’ll see Rebecca and I sharing with you products and services we’ve found through happyfrog as we explore eco-friendly ways to spend the cold hard cash. Since “Miss604″ has a good corner on the Vancouver market, it’s my endeavour to support Island-based businesses over the Christmas holidays. In the meantime, head on over to happyfrog’s website and check it out - you never know what frogilicious business might be right in your neighbourhood.