I hate neglecting my feet once sandal season comes to an end, so every so often I like to scrub my feet with a homemade, natural foot scrub and then give myself a little pedicure. As I was painting my toes last night, the smell made me think: Are there eco-friendly nail polish alternatives?

Adria Vasil, of Ecoholic fame, recommends No-Miss and Suncoat nail polish. Though they aren't 100 per cent natural, she says, they're better than a lot of products on the market. Both are commonly available at health stores. Vasil also says that Revlon and L'Oreal's Jet-Set Shine are free of formaldehyde and toluene (two big environmental offenders that are often found in nail polish).

Also, a brief search on the Internet introduced me to Acquarella, described as water based and non toxic, and Peace Keeper (which also carries a vegan, biodegradable nail polish remover). Acquarella and Peace Keeper can be purchased online.

Prefer to get pampered by an esthetician? Bring your eco-friendly nail polish to the spa with you.

Here's to happy feet!

The weather has turned and with winter imminent, I'm sure most of Canada has turned the heat on at home. After all, trekking home at 5:30 p.m. in pitch black and freezing cold needs to be rewarded with a toasty house!

Here are few tips and tricks to heat your home efficiently during the cold months:

• Get a programmable thermostat. With one, you can set your heat without even being at home. Try setting it to a higher temperature for the chilly mornings, lowering it during the day when you're at work, and programming it to warm up your house just before you get there. You can get a programmable thermostat for about $50 (and up) at your local Canadian Tire. Think how much money you'll save on energy bills!

• Check your house for air leaks. Is your front room particularly drafty? Could be that you have a leak in your windows. Be sure to seal up any hidden leaks with caulking and weather stripping. Doing so will save you a ton on your power bills.

• Give your furnace a tune-up. It's important to call in a professional every fall to ensure your furnace is in working order and free of deficiencies. Giving it annual check-ups will also make your furnace last longer, saving you money down the road. Also, make sure you clean and/or replace filters regularly.

Find more tips for winterizing your home here!

Also, don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to my blog and enter my latest Raincoast giveaway! I'll be announcing a winner on November 20.

Raincoast Trading canned fish: Sustainable fish is good for you and the environment!

I recently heard about Raincoast Trading, a company that has been selling premium wild seafood products since 1978. The company supports sustainable fishing practices to ensure healthy fish stocks for future generations, and they harvest only wild caught seafood. Plus, their canned fish is single-cooked to preserve its natural oils, nutrition and rich flavour and they don’t add water or oil to the fish during the canning process. Raincoast is also endorsed by Ocean Wise,  a program created by the Vancouver Acquarium that works closely with restaurants, markets and seafood products to help ensure the seafood they use is harvested in a sustainable manner, keeping ocean life rich and healthy.

Raincoast Trading products (canned and frozen fish) are sold a Loblaws, Whole Food, IGA and or organic grocers, and prices range for $2.99 - $11.50.

Read more about making sustainable seafood choices here!

Want even better news? I'm giving away three Raincoast Trading gift packs, which all contain three cans of premium, sustainable fish: Albacore Tuna, Pink Salmon and Sockeye Salmon.

All you have to do is SUBSCRIBE TO THIS BLOG and leave a reply here, telling me what your favourite seafood dish is and you could be a winner! I'll announce three randomly selected winners here on Thursday, November 20.

And, don't forget to enter my book giveaway, I'm announcing the winner tomorrow!

I always find that it's a bit harder to buy local foods during our colder months. There's something about the lack of berries, peaches and tender lettuce that just gets me down about grocery shopping. Oh, don't get me wrong, I love my sweet potatoes and apples just as much as the next gal, but I think spring and summer bounty is my absolute fave.

Luckily I came across WWF's Canada's Sustainable Food Buying Guide. The Guide has a handy list of what's available in specific provinces in different seasons. It also has some information about sustainable food, food-buying tips and yummy menu ideas. You can download your free copy here!

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Organic Living

Also, I have great news. I'm giving away one copy of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Organic Living, written by Eliza Sarasohn and Sonia Weiss. This is a guide that provides step-by-step solutions for going organic in most aspects of your day-to-day life. It's useful for anyone wanting to make sustainable changes to their lifestyle.

All you have to do is subscribe to my blog and leave a comment here telling me what your favourite fall and winter dish is (showcasing local bounty, of course)!

I'll announce a winner here on Friday, November 6.

Tomorrow is International Day of Climate Action, and people all over the world will gather in groups to take a stand against climate change. Photos from events all over the world will be submitted to 350.org, who will put together a giant, visual petition (in time to use at the UN Climate meeting in Copenhagen, taking place in December).

During tomorrow's many events, the focus will be on the number 350 - representing 350 parts per million, which is the safe limit for atmospheric c02.

Search 350.org to find a group gathering in your area.

Have a great weekend!

Do you think this kitchen actually gets any use?

When I asked you all last week what part of your house you would green, many of you mentioned your kitchens. Well, I have good news: greening doesn't always mean spending lots of money. There are lots of little things we can do in our kitchens to help reduce our ecological footprint.

• What are you cooking with? Make sure your staple fry or sauce pans are made of stainless steel or cast iron. These options are free of toxins.

• Say no to plastic baggies and wrap. Though little resealable bags are darned convenient, they cause unnecessary waste. You can find glass and BPA-free plastic alternatives to house odds, ends,  snacks and lunches!

• Close the door. Your oven door, that is. Taking a look at your apple pie before it's finished will allow lots of heat to escape from that oven, which will then have to work extra hard to climb back up to the appropriate temperature (I get scolded for this one all the time ... but it's really hard not to peek!).

• Go ahead and put the kettle on, just don't fill it up all the way. If you're only having one cuppa, put the required amount of water in the kettle. If you fill it all the way up, you're wasting more energy getting water that you're not even using to a boil.

For all of you who dream of a nicer, cleaner and greener kitchen, I have great news. You can enter Canadian Living's Ugliest Kitchen contest for your chance to win a $25,000 kitchen makeover from The Home Depot. All you have to do is submit a photo or video of your kitchen here. Find more information on the Ugly Kitchen Contest here!

Will you use your whole pumpkin?

With Thanksgiving behind us, we are now able to fully focus on Halloween. How can you not be all about Halloween when those tempting mini chocolate bars are lining the aisles at the grocery store?

I bet you all have your pumpkin, sitting out there on your porch ready to be carved. When you carve your pumpkin sometime in the coming weeks, I challenge you to use the entire thing. Think of how many things you can do with the seeds? They'll be no good sitting in a landfill, anyway!

Salvage all the seeds and give our Jack-Be-Spicy Pumpkin Seeds a try.

And when your done with your uncarved pumpkins you use for decor, use them for a Honey Pumpkin Pie.

Looking for more Halloween ideas? Check out Canadian Living's Complete guide to ultimate Halloween fun!

Also, don't forget to enter my contest for your chance to win a copy of Almost Green. I'll be announcing four winners on Monday, October 19!

We're so used to looking to the experts for advice on how to better ourselves, but what about turning to kids?

I attended an event today at the beautiful Toronto Botanical Gardens where the Sunlight Green Clean Kids were introduced. Ten Canadian kids between the ages of six and 13 chatted about their environmental commitments, projects and dreams. Most of these kids have started eco initiatives in their schools or neighbourhoods, or have just been so darned committed as to change the views of their entire families. The event was very inspiring. These kids may be small, but they are certainly mighty.

The Sunlight Green Clean Kids will have the opportunity to review Green Grant applications and help other environmentally conscious Canadian kids to put their green ideas into action, handing over between $250 and $1,500 to help fund their initiatives. They also each receive a $2,000 honorarium.

Let me tell you, after seeing these kids speak today, I know Mother Nature is very lucky to have them on her side. I'm confident knowing that the next generation is very capable, and will do great things for the environment.

What important environmental lesson has a child in your life taught you?

My personal MacBook is totally on the fritz. Once I got over the shock of hearing from the lady at the Apple store that "the water damage is so bad, to the point where things are growing inside" (for the record, I've never, ever spilt on my computer!), I started wondering what I would do with my computer once it's totally kaput.

First, just in case you're not too clear, don't just throw your computer in the garbage. Computers contain lead, cadmium, mercury and other nasty toxins that if sitting in a landfill will leach into our water, causing all sorts of environmental and health hazards.

So, what are your other option?

Many computer companies, like Apple, HP and DELL have take-back programs. To quote Apple's site: "All equipment received by the program is recycled domestically and no hazardous material is shipped overseas." That's all good news. To find more info on these companies' take-back programs, visit their websites.

Also, Industry Canada runs a nifty program called Computers for Schools. They refurbish old computers and send them off to schools, libraries and not-for-profit learning organizations. You can visit Industry Canada's website for more information on this great cause.

What did you do with your old computer?

How often do you put your car in park?

Yesterday was World Car Free Day, and I hope you joined folks all over the world in leaving your car at home and put on your walking shoes, getting on your bikes or riding your local transit system.

I think World Car Free Day is a great way to reflect upon the harm cars can do to our environment, the state of our public transit systems and the way our cities have developed. But as responsible citizens, we should do better that once a year.

Have you contemplated leaving your car at home often? Say, once a week, or once every two weeks? Do any of you take part in a car-sharing program?

Cars produce over 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year (not to mention the amount of mining that goes into manufacturing cars and harmful petroleum extraction), so imagine the difference if we all dramatically changed our driving habits. Cycling and using public transit are great ways to explore a city, and think of how much less frustrated you'll be because you don't have to sit in traffic.

How have your driving habits changed?

I realize some of you might live in rural communities, where you have to be much more dependent on cars, but have you been able to make any changes?

Don't forget to enter my giveaway and you could be one of two winners. I'll announce the winners on Friday!