Despite what you hear on the news every night, we live in an amazing time right now. There are so many companies out there trying to make a difference in the world of being “green”. They are making leaps and bounds in terms of creating products that perform the same or even better than our popular brands and for a reasonable price.
Being a sales person at heart, I feel I need to give a shout out or a plug to two brands in particular:
1. Green Works by Clorox
2. Seventh Generation
The switch to more natural household cleaners has been a long time coming for me. I have been reading and speaking to a lot of people about how toxic our current cleaners are for the environment and our own health. So when I saw an advertisement for the new Green Works natural cleansers by Clorox, I was intrigued. 
Unlike other companies that try and come up with new ideas by tweaking their existing formulas, Clorox started from scratch creating natural cleansers that are made from 99% natural ingredients. These cleansers are biodegrable, not tested on animals, do not contain any harsh chemical fumes or residues, and can be found in recyclable packaging.
I use to be an avid Lycol and Vim user - you can not get any stronger than that stuff - so the Monica Gellar in me was not completely convinced in the cleaning power of these products but let me be the first to tell you that I was wrong. This stuff is amazing. I have officially switched. The all-purpose cleaner is my fav!
The next amazing company is called Seventh Generation. Located in Vermont, this company is truly at the forefront of a cultural change in consumer behaviour. The name itself is derived from the Great Law of the Iroquois that states, “In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.” A concept I wished our grandparents would have listened too. Similar to Clorox they have created a line of non-toxic household products from phosphate-free dishwasher detergent to chlorine-free baby diapers. Every time you use a Seventh Generation product you are making a difference by saving natural resources, reducing pollution, keeping toxic chemicals out of the environment and making the world a safer place for this and the next seven generations. Brilliant concept!
The best part about these products is that you can find them in regular stores. I purchase my Seventh Generation dishwasher detergent from Canadian Tire for only $3.99 and the Green Works products from my local grocery store!
The point I want to get across is that there is no reason why we shouldn’t all be using these products and supporting companies that are trying to make a difference. We are all familiar with the theory of supply and demand. If we support these products and companies, the others will soon follow. Cost or convenience is no longer a reason to not buy green…it is easy to be green.
Although the nights still feel a bit cool it is safe to say that spring is officially here. Mother Nature did not win. We all survived the winter of 2007-2008 and boy was it ever a long one! I think it was so brutal in Ontario that accepting the spring weather has been somewhat of an unbelievable thing.
Beside the temperature there are a several signs I look for to know that spring is definitely here:
- The snow tires are coming off
- People are smiling and talking to each other
- Exercise is back into the routine
- The garage/driveway becomes a neighbourhood hang out again.
- You can smell the sweet sent of a BBQ cooking dinner
My all time favourite sign that spring is in the air is the sound of all the birds. Have you ever stopped to listen to them lately? It is not just the occasional song but constant chatter from morning to night. I have always thought that the birds are just like us when it comes to seasons. They have been trapped inside a tree for all of winter and now that it is nice out they are able to visit with their friends and talk about the day. I also love how early it starts. As soon as the dawn starts to break the birds start singing. I love waking up to it. I think it is something we take for granted here in Ontario. I have been all over the world and hearing birds sing is not a normal thing, even in other provinces of Canada.
So in light of spring being here, I urge everyone to savour the moments you enjoy about spring. The months seem to be passing by so quickly, that I think it is important to note those things that make you happy instead of all those daily things that bring you down.
A few years ago I remember watching Oprah and listening to a discussion on how our society doesn’t raise boys to be men, but rather raise boys not to be women. Mothers and fathers are equally responsible for teaching boys that girls are weaker and more emotional. Parents often scold little boys not to cry when they fall and hurt themselves saying 'Be a man, toughen up.' As a result, they learn to repress their hurt.
I was thinking about that notion today and how I think we ladies do not give men enough credit sometimes. Could you imagine those days where everything is building up and you couldn't let it out? I don’t know about you, but I cry at least one a month about something. Normally it is when I’m feeling overwhelmed or frustrated and sometimes it is out of happiness. My Fiancé never understands why I cry when I’m happy.
It is such a release to cry but it is something that most men just don’t do, and I actually feel sorry for them. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t think everyone should now start losing it on a daily basis but I think men should be able to express an emotion without being thought of as a lesser-man. By the way, crying as a result of a sport does not count.
On that Oprah show that I watch, there were several well respected athletes and professionals speaking about how men carry a big weight of expectation on their shoulders that they feel women don't appreciate. They want to be able to provide for their family, be sexy, be tough and strong, yet when they are struggling they are not supposed to let it show. It was interesting to see how many men felt the same way.
I still think being a woman today is harder, but I try to keep this thought in the back of my head when dealing with the men in my life. The only time I have zero sympathy for men is when they get sick, but that is a whole other story in itself.
The next amazing company is called Seventh Generation. Located in Vermont, this company is truly at the forefront of a cultural change in consumer behaviour. The name itself is derived from the Great Law of the Iroquois that states, “In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.” A concept I wished our grandparents would have listened too. Similar to Clorox they have created a line of non-toxic household products from phosphate-free dishwasher detergent to chlorine-free baby diapers. Every time you use a Seventh Generation product you are making a difference by saving natural resources, reducing pollution, keeping toxic chemicals out of the environment and making the world a safer place for this and the next seven generations. Brilliant concept!
