With six weeks remaining until Christmas, a part of me is excited to have a couple of weeks to spend at home with the family. Another part of me, however, is somewhat stressed when I think about shopping for the perfect gifts for loved ones. I know most kids will likely have toys or gadgets on their wish list but I often feel torn over buying play things versus practical items. Sure, toys will bring children instant fun and enjoyment. Yet, once the novelty wears off, they often get tossed aside. Useful gifts such as clothing or consumables such as art supplies, now that is what I would much rather buy. And I love shopping at Canadian stores, especially those that carry unique eco-friendly products such as the ones available via Lavish & Lime.

For greener gift ideas for the little artist on your shopping list, Lavish and Lime offers a wonderful selection of art products that are natural, recycled and non-toxic. From stylish sketchbooks to recycled crayon sticks, there is sure to be some sparks of creativity in the air. I would absolutely love to colour with their bright natural crayon rocks.

Next week is the last week of summer vacation? [Insert high-pitched scream here.] I don't know about you but I'm not quite ready for summer to end let alone heading back to work. There's still so much I want to see and do. Granted, we've had a pretty eventful summer, the kids and I. And thanks to some waste-free lunch gear from Lavish and Lime, it was easy to prepare snacks and lunches to take with us on the go. The best part is that I was able to reuse it over and over and over...