Congratulations to Anna G. and Peggy Smith for winning a copy of The Sea: A Literary Companion and Night: A Literary Companion. I hope you enjoy your reads!

I hope you all enjoy your weekends. Stay tuned, because next week I'll be giving away a favourite Green Living Blog prize - an unclaimed Brita pitcher from a few months back.

Protect yourself from the sun this summer!

Now that the sun is out in full swing, it's imperative we think about protecting our skin. I advocate the application of sunscreen throughout the entire year, but it's obviously very important to be conscious of your exposure to the magnificent sun throughout the summer months.

As I've been lathering on the lotion for my soccer games, bike rides and runs, I've been wondering if there are any "natural" or "eco-friendly" sunscreens on the market.

I made a quick  trip to Shopper's Drug Mart to scour the sun protection section, and there was nothing of the sort on the shelves. I was surprised, because hasn't the words "eco" and "green" become, at the very least, a way to sell thing these days?

My trusted Ecoholic book also had nothing to say on this particular subject. I haven't had a chance to hit up a health store to look for sunscreen of this nature, but it's now the top chore on my list, as I'm very curious if such a thing exists.

Have you heard of a greener version of sunscreen? Is sunscreen green enough as is? Or maybe it's something that can't be greenified. How do you protect yourself from the hot sun in the summer?

Until we find an answer, continue to rub in that sunscreen!

And a note to all your gardeners out there: CanadianGardening.com is hosting a live forum chat tomorrow (Tuesday) where readers can ask Stephen Westcott-Gratton their rose questions. It takes place at 1 p.m. EDT. Head on over there to ask your questions!

The sun has been shining steadily for a few days now, and the forcast calls for sunhine for at least the next week. I think it's safe to say that the warm weather is here to stay.  All this sun has got me thinking about certain things that I really get to enjoy in the warm weather - activities that are undeniably synonymous with summer. One of my favourites is star gazing ... nothing serious, just literally gazing up at the stars. I love when night falls when I'm out of the city. I always make sure to take some time to myself, find a spot and lie down on my back, where I'll have nothing else to look at except a sky full of stars. I could stay there for hours!

I also love swimming. I'm not talking about doing the breast stroke in a pool full of chlorine and floating Band-Aids. I'm talking about floating slowly through rivers, lakes and streams - or oceans, whenever I'm lucky enough to get the chance.

You know what the ultimate summer activity is for me? Swimming under a sky full of stars. What better way is there to enjoy two of our world's best things? I hope we can undo some of the harm we've caused Mother Nature, so that we can enjoy these fabulous things indefinitely.

What's your favourite summer activity? Leave a message here telling us about it and you could win a copy of The Sea: A Literary Companion and Night: A Literary Companion.

Two great summer reads for two lucky winners!

Two lucky winners will win a copy of each book to put on your summer reading list.

In The Sea, twenty-five writers share a love, a fear and a deep respect for the powers of the oceans. Each of these passages takes the reader on an unforgettable voyage, fraught with peril and charged with the awesome power of the sea. Stories by Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin, Ann Saunders and Yann Martel are included in this collection.

Night: A Literary Companion explores the many faces of the night: its myths, its flora and fauna — and its human side, too.  It's the perfect late-night read!

Remember, you have to be a subscriber to win.

I'll annouce a winner here on Thursday, May 28.

I would like to congratulate (more...)

Lots of sprouts!

The seedlings I planted about two weeks ago have burst through the soil and are healthy and growing like crazy. Can you identify with that feeling of looking in at your seedlings, and seeing some green heads poking through the soil? I was so happy! I can't wait until it's time to plant my tomatoes (and other goods) outside and to eat a salad made from produce totally foraged from my very own backyard. I've also planted lettuce, carrots, green onions, peppers, nasturtiums, impatiens and geraniums in containers out on the back porch - and there are lots of sprouts popping up in these containers too. I love heading out back when I come home from work to admire all the work I've done. It hasn't even been too much trouble or overly expensive, especially when I consider that amount of produce I'll be enjoying over the summer (that is if little critters and other backyard visitors don't enjoy them first!). The advice you've all given me in this post has been put to good use.

Don't forget to enter the Air Miles My Planet giveaway. I'll be picking five winners tomorrow afternoon.

Check out my sprouts (I'm just so proud of them, I had to show you).

My little seddlings have burst through the soil!

I would like to congratulate (more...)

You all have been leaving amazing answers on my Green Heroes post. I'm so happy you all have such great influences in your lives, to encourage you to go green. Check out my post and leave a message telling us about your green hero for a chance to win some great books!

So, you know your trusted Air Miles card. The one you pull out when you're at the LCBO (my secret's out!) or when you're grocery shopping at Metro? Well, I just learned that they have launched a new program called Air Miles My Planet, a program that helps Air Miles' collectors live greener and save money by allowing you to use your Miles to purchase products that will help you live a greener lifestyle (like a transit pass, eco luggage, or a donation to WWF-Canada). What a great program!

In order to promote the new and wonderful Air Miles My Planet, they've generously given my five Air Miles Cards worth 1,000 points to use toward any of the My Planet rewards. I would spend 725 reward miles on the Organic Indulgence Set or pair up with 100 of my existing points and get the 100 per cent organic cotton sheet set.

In order for you to win, I want you to tell me about your dream vacation! Seeing as Air Miles always reminds me of travelling, I think it's a perfect fit. The best five answers will win an Air Miles My Planet Card worth 1,000 points. Remember, you have to be a subscriber to win, so don't forget to subscribe to my blog today. I'll announce the winners here next Friday, May 15.

Happy weekend!

With Earth Day now behind us we musn't forget the importance of treating out planet with respect and kindness. In order to do so daily, I look to some of my green heroes for inspiration and guidance. Since I was a kid, David Suzuki's name has been synonomous with the environment. My ears always perk when his name is mentioned and I take what he says seriously. I also find him handsome ... but that's neither here nor there. Also, as you may have noticed in previous posts, I'm a big fan of Adria Vasil. I am forever consulting her book Ecoholic for great tips and guidance on how to green-ify certain aspects of my life. Lastly, I greatly admire Alisa Smith and J.B. MackKinnon (of The 100-Mile Diet fame), who mobilized a mass of people to start thinking seriously about eating locally.

And in honour of my green heroes, I'm announcing a green hero book giveaway!! Tell me who your green hero is and why, and you could win these three essential books to get your green library growing (don't forget, you must be a subscriber to be eligible to win, so make sure you subscribe to my blog today!).

• The Big Picture, by David Suzuki and Dave Robert Taylor

• Ecoholic, by Adria Vasil

• The 100-Mile Diet, by Alisa Smith and J.B. MackKinnon

I'll announce the winner here on Monday May 11! I can't wait to read about your green heroes.