Saturday, October 16, 2010

Simple Meditaion - A Quick Refesher!

I often find myself browsing the Yoga Journal webpage (http://www.yogajournal.com/) for new inspiration in yoga poses. Today my cursor fell onto the meditation section, and my mind marvelled over what a wonderful practice it is.

In the fast-paced, stressful society that we find ourselves in, finding time to relax is essential. It can aid in the destruction of stress and anxiety, help with insomnia and sleeping disorders, improve overall relaxation, and so much more. Here is a list of 100 ways in which meditation can improve your life: http://www.ineedmotivation.com/blog/2008/05/100-benefits-of-meditation/

So, in celebration of this practice, here are a set of simple instructions for a simple refresher, from yoga journal!

Sit comfortably in an upright but relaxed position. Close your eyes and bring your attention to your nostrils. As you breathe notice the subtle sensation of cool air passing into, and warm air passing out of, your nose. Without manipulating the breath, simply notice the sensation. Maintain your attention to every breath. Staying relaxed and mentally alert, become curious about each passing one as if it were your first.
If your attention wanders, simply notice the distraction and patiently return to the sensation of the breath. Your ability to stay present deepens by consistently returning to the current moment.
Do this exercise 10 minutes once or twice a day, gradually extending your sessions to 20 or 30 minutes each.
Enjoy!

-Staff@Salts

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!


According to the Canadian Heritage webpage, the first Thanksgiving Day in Canada after Confederation was on April 15, 1872. It was set up to celebrate the recovery of The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) from a serious illness. An interesting start to a wonderful holiday!

On the note of celebration, I'm a big fan of crafts, and thanksgiving seems to have a lot of fun possible projects. While browsing for ideas, I discovered this clever one, and thought I would share it with you all!
It's a "tree of thanks" which can be used as a decoration or center piece.

What you'll need:

  • Twig with branches
  • Heavy vase, container or basket with rocks
  • Floral foam
  • Silk leaves
  • White card stock
  • Black marker
  • Hot glue gun

How to make it:

  1. Fill container (we used an urn) with floral foam. Pack it in tight so that it doesn’t move around.
  2. Insert twig into the floral foam until secure.
  3. Hot glue one silk leaf for each member of your family that will be attending the holiday celebration onto the end of each branch.
  4. Write each family member’s name on pieces of card stock. Hot glue one name below each leaf.
  5. Place on the holiday table.
  6. When the guests show up, give them the option of writing one thing they are thankful on their card stock.
I hope you all enjoy this idea, and have a marvelous thanksgiving!

-Staff@Salts

Saturday, October 2, 2010

New Global Mama's Products In!!

We've just recieved a load of new products from a great label: Global Mama's.

It's a fair trade, nonprofit organization assisting women-owned businesses in Africa. Everything is made by hand in Ghana, and all of the proceeds go directly to the producers and programs that help them with business development!
Come check some of their great stuff out in the Sooke store, or the online store: http://saltsorganic.com/shop/
Thanks!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Yoga Pose of the Week: Bharadvaja's Twist

Here's a pose that stretches the spine, shoulders, and hips; Massages the abdominal organs; Relieves lower backache, neck pain, and sciatica; Helps relieve stress; Improves digestion; And strengthens the lower back! Wow!

1) Sit on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you. Shift over onto your right buttock, bend your knees, and swing your legs to the left. Lay your feet on the floor outside your left hip, with the left ankle resting in the right arch.


2)Inhale and lift through the top of the sternum to lengthen the front torso. Then exhale and twist your torso to the right, keeping the left buttock on or very close to the floor. Lengthen your tailbone toward the floor to keep the lower back long. Soften the belly.


3)Tuck your left hand under your right knee and bring your right hand to the floor just beside your right buttock. Pull your left shoulder back slightly, pressing your shoulder blades firmly against your back even as you continue to twist the chest to the right.

4)You can turn your head in one of two directions: continue the twist of the torso by turning it to the right; or counter the twist of the torso by turning it left and looking over the left shoulder at your feet.

5)With every inhalation lift a little more through the sternum, using the push of the fingers on the floor to help; with every exhalation twist a little more. Stay for 30 seconds to 1 minute, then release with an exhalation, return to the starting position, and repeat to the left for the same length of time.


I grabbed this pose and description from http://www.yogajournal.com/, check it out for more!


Saturday, August 21, 2010

Sticker Sale @ Salts

Come on down and check out the HOT summer sale!!
Start the school year/ fall in style!!
Fabulous Fall finds are a must have!!
Sale started August 20th
So hurry and get down to the store before its too late!!
YELLOW sticker- 15% off
RED sticker- 20% off
GREEN sticker- 30% off
BLUE sticker- 40% off
Can't wait to see ya'll down at SALTS!!!!
2052 Otter Point Road Sooke BC

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Dave Barnes Art At Salts!


We're very excited to have a new artist showcased at Salts. His name is Dave Barnes, and he uses a wide variety of materials to create his masterpieces. Recycled elements, faded colours, layered/collaged backgrounds, and sand~papered imagery all play a part in this process, along with the use of bold observational line and memory dissolved Rockwellian imagery.
We have nine of Dave's pieces exhibited at the store, along with some prints! Please stop by and check it out!
You can also see more of his art and learn more about him on his webpage: http://www.davebarnes.ca/home-pg.htm


Saturday, August 7, 2010

Eco-Friendly Beauty Tips

Everybody wants to look good and have great skin as long as possible and that calls for serious skin care. While we’re always involved in beauty tips it’s also important to value eco-friendly living as well. How can we look great and not harm our beautiful planet? Here are some ideas to achieve both precious goals.

  • Make sure your soap is free of alpha-hydroxy acids. These harsh chemicals are used to clear pores, but also damage your skin’s UV protection abilities. Look for an all-natural cleanser while you’re out doing your shopping.
  • Use a natural shampoo. Mainstream shampoos often contain sodium lauryl sulfate, which irritates the skin and is also used in garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers. Try an organic homemade shampoo, such as 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar mixed with water.
  • Switch to biodegradable cosmetics. Many organic skin care products and body cleansers now come in biodegradable packaging. Look for the biodegradable symbol on the label when shopping.
  • Purchase unbleached and chlorine-free toilet paper. Toilet paper is bleached for aesthetic reasons, but this can lead to increased risks of birth defects, cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Next time you’re at the store, look for a chlorine-free brand of toilet paper.
  • Make the most of your cosmetics and skin care products. Be sure to use every last drop of your facial creams and cosmetics. Some containers can be opened or swabbed with a Q-tip in order to access the contents at the bottom of the bottle or tube.
  • Decorate your bathroom with plants. These organisms thrive by cycling air through their leaves, and are great at absorbing airborne particles and contaminants. They are also a great decorative feature!
  • Rather than go through tons of disposable products, choose a regular washcloth over throwaway face wipes, invest in a reusable razor (according to the Environmental Protection Agency, we toss about 2 billion plastic ones each year!)
  • Make an eco-friendly hair mask by putting eggs in your hair can actually make it stronger and shinier. Beat three raw eggs with a drop of your favorite essential oil (to kill the stench) and work it into wet hair from your ears down, let it sit for 15-30 minutes uncovered. (You don't want to cook the eggs with the heat from your head!) Rinse and lather up twice with a clarifying shampoo and skip the conditioner. Do this once every two weeks.
  • Did you know that your hair dryer can use up about 1,500 watts of energy in an hour.. Squeeze and blot damp hair with a cloth towel to speed up your strands' natural drying time. Comb an antifrizz cream through curly/wavy hair or mist a root-boosting volumizing spray on fine strands. Then slip on a cloth headband or a scarf so hair stays smooth while it air-dries.


Have fun trying our tips on the way to a greener more beautiful you!


Love,

Salts

Monday, August 2, 2010

Happy BC Day!

All of us at Salts wish you a Happy BC Day! In honor of our beautiful province, here are a few fun facts:

  • The British Columbia Day Act was first introduced to the Legislative Assembly in 1974. The aim of the Bill was to create a statutory holiday on the first Monday in August to recognize the pioneers in the province and the act gained royal assent in 1996.

  • The Steller's Jay (a bird), the Pacific Dogwood (a flower), Jade (a mineral), Spirit Bear (mammal), and the Western Red Cedar (a tree) are all provincial symbols.


  • B.C. entered Canadian confederation in 1871. We were the seventh province to join.


  • Our provincial motto is "splendor without diminishment."


  • B.C.'s total land and freshwater area is 95 million hectares, larger than France and Germany combined. Only 30 countries are larger. British Columbia occupies about 10 per cent of Canada's land surface.


  • There is an estimated population of 4,494,232 in British Columbia.


  • British Columbia is the third-largest film and television production centre in North America - after New York and Los Angeles.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Feel Good Tips For You And The Earth!

1) Hang your shopping bags on the same hanger as your coat. It will make it near impossible to forget them when heading out.

2) Keep a few nesting baskets in a convenient place (like the trunk of your car or back seat) and put your lighter grocery items in them. They will last longer than your cloth bags and they are multifunctional around the house. You can get recyclable ones too!

3) "Between the optimist and the pessimist, the difference is droll. The optimist sees the doughnut; the pessimist the hole!" -Oscar Wilde. Live your live an optimist-you'll trigger much joy in those around you. It's a never ending circle!

4) You are the only one who can create change in what you do and ultimately affect what you feel.

5) Reserve 10 minutes of your day to something YOU want to do. This could be anything, from a bubble bath to reading a few pages of your book.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Stuck in a Style Rut?!?!?!?

A style rut can happen at any age anytime. It happens when you get stuck in one way of thinking and dressing, without notice of the changes that have happened to you and around you.
There are a few different style ruts that we tend to get stuck in:

The Comfort Rut: where you can’t be bothered to try any new looks, you just grab your easy clothes and chuck them on. Often you are scared to change because you don’t know what will suit you. For example, do you look at your wardrobe see mostly one colour or mostly one or two styles of clothing?
The Busy Rut: when you are too busy to even think about clothes, so you wear the same thing over and over again and you know that you don’t feel great in your clothes or if they are really ‘you’, but you don’t have time to figure it all out by yourself… where do you even start?
The Flash Back Rut: where you look like you just stepped out of a past fashion decade… “Excuse me, the 80’s called and they’d like their perm and mullets back!” You haven’t moved on and it’s clearly noticeable. You are a bit oblivious to this, but also a bit scared to try something new.
The Mutton Rut: You’ve all heard of the saying “Mutton dressed as Lamb”. It sounds harsh of course, but really it’s just when you know you looked good in a certain style and you find it hard to let go of that, even though your body and looks have likely changed. In this rut, you are often dressing in too young a look for your age. We’re all for stylish looking ladies of all ages, but there are some things that are appropriate, and some that aren’t.
How to tell if you are in a style rut....
You are totally uninspired by what you see in your wardrobe.
You end up buying an item when you already have several others just like it at home.
Your wardrobe could have a past decade.
You hardly ever think of wearing other colours or styles.
You just feel that clothes and style are not your thing.
You can’t remember the last time you did something different with your hair, makeup or clothes.

Life is always changing around us. Fashion changes, our body shape changes, our personality or our lifestyle may change, and we need to be able to adapt to these changes, and still reflect who we really are in the way we dress and present ourselves.

Monday, July 19, 2010

15 Tips to reduce water waste

1) Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Compost food waste instead!

2) Wash your face and brush your teeth while in the shower, saves money and time!

3) Shorten your showers by a minute or two!

4) Use a water-efficient showerhead!

5) Turn off the water while brushing your teeth!

6) Run your washer and dishwasher only when they are full!

7) Rinse your razor in the sink with a few inches of warm water instead of running water!

8) Wash your fruits and vegetables over a pan of water and collect the water, then reuse it to water houseplants!

9) Washing dishes by hand, don't leave the water running for rinsing!

10) Keep a bottle or jug of drinking water in the fridge!

11) Don't run the hose while washing your car, fill a bucket up of soapy water, only use the hose for rinsing!

12) Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks!

13) Water your lawn only when it needs it, to tell if your lawn needs watering is to step on the grass. If it springs back up when you move, it doesn't need water. If it stays flat, the lawn is ready for watering!

14) Water during the early morning of the day; avoid watering when it's windy!

15) Deep soak your lawn, water long enough to get the roots, if you lightly sprinkle your lawn it will evaporate quickley
Artz4Fashion
@ The Sooke Fine Arts Show
Seaparc Leisure Complex
Sooke BC

Designers from Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands of BC will showcase their amazing fashion at the Sooke Fine Arts Show! http://www.sookefinearts.com/

It's the night where arts and the runway combine to bring brillant fashion, creativity and style to the spotlight!

Appetizers and wine will be served!
Designers showing:

SALTS Clothing
Isadora Clothing
Trapper Jane
NIXXI
Phyllis Lysionek
Bonspiel Creations
Linda Ferguson Designs
Sheila Beach
Tierre Joline Hats
Lilikoi Clothing
Devil May Wear Clothing
& More


Hair and Makeup by:
Applause Hair Studio
New Look Skin Care & Day Spa

SEE YOU ALL THERE!!!


Sunday, July 11, 2010

Summer Festival Duncan Daze



The Duncan Business Improvement Area Society is hosting two days of Free Family Fun in the Heart of Downtown Duncan where pedestrians are free to roam! Enjoy rides, activities and lots of live entertainment, food, fun and Sidewalk Sales.

Friday, July 16th, 2010 - Saturday, July 17th, 2010

Friday 10:00am to 8:00pm and Saturday 10:00am to 4:30pm

FREE

Kids activities:

Rock Wall sponsored by Wishes and The Garment District
El Paso Train sponsored by Giggle Gear and Valley Carpet One
Catch bouncing bee’s at the Queen Bee station
Merry Go Swing sponsored by The Red Balloon.


Challenges:

Play Guitar Hero or Wii Sports and you may WIN a Nintendo Wii!
Complete a task in a ‘Minute To Win It’ for a chance to WIN Downtown Dollars!
Scavenger Hunt
Win a prize at Spin the Wheel for only a loonie.
Participate in the Chalk Walk Art.
Help the United Way Fundraise with the Dunk Tank.
Karaoke
Mini Golf
Photo Ops
Physic Fair
Play Stations
Fly Tying Demonstration
Search and Rescue info
The Pacific North West Raptors will show off their amazing birds of pray.

Entertainment:

Live entertainer Deano the Clown
Shelley Cassidy Highland Dancers
Celtic Rhythm Dancers
Delta Police Pipe Band
The Cowichan Valley Concert Band
Yesca will be Belly Dancing
Martial Arts Demonstrations from Island Kung Fu
Joseph a local guitarist/singer will be playing some tunes
Bopoma Community Music
The Ukeladies
Moonrise Music.


Several Hydration Stations donated by Columbia Ice, so bring your re-useable water bottles and fill up!
Have Lunch in City Square and enjoy music provided by the Duncan Garage Showroom.
Mom’s Station, partially sponsored by Success by Six, will be available in City Square to allow moms to comfortably breast feed and change their babies


See You There!!

Sunday, June 27, 2010

You Are What You Eat

How many times have you heard this phrase? You can look at it in a negative or a positive light, which will you choose? I'm sure we all want to eat organic, but it can sometimes prove quite expensive. Here's a few quick tips I found on how to eat organic on a budget!

1) Eat more of every fruit and vegetable, including cauliflower stalks and greens, potato skins, and citrus zest. It’s good quality food, don’t waste it!

2) Grow your own fruit and vegetables, even if it’s just herbs in a window box or a pot of juicy tomatoes.

3) Buy cheaper cuts of organic meat, like stew beef, and get creative in the kitchen. Also, consider eating a little less meat by making dishes with other high-protein ingredients like lentils and beans.

4) Shop at Farmers Markets. Ask about seconds -- perfectly tasty but misshapen produce that you may be able to buy at a discount. Ask about discounts for buying in bulk. Ask how you can buy their produce when the market is closed. You're helping your community and yourself!

5) Buy In Bulk. Whether you're shopping at a natural foods store, supermarket or co-op, buying in bulk is a great way to stretch your food dollar. For beans, grains, lentils and nuts, head straight for the bulk containers. Just make sure you have a cool, dry place in your kitchen to store your dry goods for a few months. You can save on storage space by splitting your stash with a friend.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Guru Upcycled Silk Dresses are in next week!




Need something to wear this summer! Try a recycled silk dress from Guru. Made from recycled Sari's in India. Beautiful print fabrics, gorgeous summer styles. Eco Friendly Silk! All at great prices from 30-50 dollars.

In store and online at Salts Clothing in Sooke, BC at 2052 Otter Point Road early next week!

Its Time for Sanuk Yoga Mat Flip Flops again!



I love Sanuk, they make some of the most comfortable laid back shoes on the planet and many of their styles are good for the planet too. This summer I am wearing their Yoga Mat Flip Flops again. Thick and cushy, strong and sturdy plus they look good. For a bit of a lift check out the Pay Raise Sanuk sandal with a slight heal.

Sanuk also makes anti-shoes. There version of the flip flop made into a Eco Friendly shoe. They feel as comfortable as flip flops but have the look of a shoe. My fav is the Tweedy. Check out all the Sanuk Men's and Women's Flip Flop styles in the Salts Clothing online store.

See you on the beach!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

How can you help with the Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico?

So. I am pretty sad and outraged about the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. I was pondering today if there is anything I personally could do to help the clean up. Yes yes, I know its BP's responsibility to clean up but the faster if gets done and the more help there is the less the damage that will be done.

So there is a few things that you can do.

1. You can head on down and volunteer your time with one of the great organizations that are recruiting help right now (see list at the bottom of this post for more details).

2. Donate some Dough to the effort. This can be as simple as a text away.

The National Wildlife Federation is looking for volunteers and support to help spot distressed or oiled wildlife, and to assist in the cleanup and restoration efforts along the coast of Louisiana. You can text the word "NWF" to 20222. That'll donate $10 to the National Wildlife Federation through your phone bill.

United Way has launched the Gulf Recovery Fund, which is providing emergency assistance and long term recovery support for the communities devastated by this oil spill. Those who need help or want to volunteer to help can dial 2-1-1. You can donate to this fund by calling 1-866-5826, or text the word "United" to 50555 to donate $10 from your mobile phone.

The Nature Conservancy has committed to the long-term restoration work needed in the Gulf and states along its coast, and has launched their Fund for Gulf Coast Restoration to support this effort. The Fund was set up to aid in re-establishing critical habitats such as marshes, seagrass beds, oyster reefs, and coastal wetlands. You can text the word "coast" to 50555. That'll donate $10 through your mobile phone.

3. Ponder Off Shore Drilling's future in our oceans and get involved in the conversation. Check out The DogWood Initiative in BC.

4. Invest in Green Energy and use Green Energy as much as possible in your daily life. Check out this youtube video and link...and consider if you can cut down on your own oil use.



Here is a list of organizations looking for volunteers to help with the oil spill clean up.

The Audubon Society
, which is affiliated with the Louisiana Coastal Initiative, is making its Center for Birds of Prey in Florida available for bird cleansing and rehabilitation and is seeking volunteers. Elsewhere, Audubon said it was gearing up to mobilize volunteers and provide assistance as the oil reaches land in Louisiana and elsewhere. Find a local office

The Deep Water Horizon response team is looking for help in identifying shoreline and animals affected. Oiled wildlife should not be captured but instead reported at 1-866-557-1401. To report areas with oil ashore or to leave contact information to volunteer in the affected areas, call 1-866-448-5816.

These local organizations also are gathering volunteers' information as they prepare for the environmental damage this oil can cause:

The Alabama Coastal Foundation is collecting contact information from volunteers for cleanup efforts along the Alabama coast should the oil spill reach the state's shores. Call 251-990-6002

The Mobile Bay National Estuary Program is looking for volunteers to help reduce the potential impact of the oil spill in Mobile Bay. Call 251-431-6409.

The Mobile Baykeeper is asking for contact details of volunteers is collecting contact information for volunteers to respond anywhere along the Gulf Coast, if needed. Call 251-433-4229.

Save Our Seabirds is a Florida bird rescue group that is looking for support as its response team prepares to help oiled wildlife. Call 941-388-3010.

In addition to the wildlife specific organizations, others are also looking to assist with the effects of the oil spill.

The Greater New Orleans Foundation, which serves the 13 parishes that comprise New Orleans, has opened the Gulf Coast Oil Spill Fund, which will offer emergency grants to nonprofit organizations helping the victims of the oil spill, and address the long-term economic, environmental, and cultural effects of the disaster.

The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana's mission is to help restore and protect a sustainable coastal Louisiana. They are accepting volunteers and support to assist with spill recovery efforts.

The Gulf Coast states likely to be affected have also set up sites where information about volunteering can be found: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi.

The Gulf Coast Fund has created special emergency grants in response to the oil disaster. The organization is distributing these grants to registered non-profit groups engaged in community-lead responses to this crisis. Call 212-812-4361.

Save Our Gulf is a campaign by the Waterkeeper Alliance to support and coordinate efforts to protect the Gulf Coast. Their fund supports Waterkeepers from Texas to Florida who are working to hold back this oil spill from their waterways and communities.


The First Response Team of America
is working with the National Guard in Southern Louisiana to build dams to hold back the oil from the fragile coastal habitats.

Thanks for taking the time to think about how to help the Gulf.

Salts.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Eco Friendly Gift Ideas For Fathers Day!



It can be difficult to decide upon a gift for such a loved figure in your life. Here's a few ideas that we came up with. We hope that you can find one you like. Maybe they will inspire other ideas?

1) Plant a Tree: Flatter your Father by planting a tree in his honor. It's an ongoing, symbolic gift which is also a present to our environment!

2) Picnic: Surprise your Father by preparing a basket filled with his favorite goodies and snacks, pick a location, turn your cellphone off, and share an afternoon together.

3) Bamboo T-Shirt or Hemp T-shirt: The weather is warming up, and a cool bamboo shirt is a perfect fix. Or grab a thick rugged hemp shirt. Hemp is one of the strongest fibers in the world. Salts offers a variety of sizes, colors, and styles.

4) Gardening Chores: Does your Father like gardening? Why not help him out with his chores in the garden? It's a nice place to enjoy each others company, and your helping him and the environment out!

5) Grab some Sanuks for Papa: The comfortable anti shoe. Half shoe half flip flop all style.

Shop Online for Fathers Day Gifts.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Make Your Own Natural Juice Popsicles! Healthy Organic Treats.

This is so easy and simply delicious!
Orange Cream Sickles:
-1 cup orange juice
-1/2 cup apple juice
-1 tsp. honey
-1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
-2 tbls. dry milk
-2 ice cubes
Blend - Drink or freeze into popsicles. Yum!

Yoga Pose of the Week! Yoga for Stress Relief!

Extended Puppy Pose (Uttana Shishosana):

1. Come onto all fours. See that your shoulders are above your wrists and your hips are above your knees. Walk your hands forward a few inches and curl your toes under.

2. As you exhale, move your buttocks halfway back toward your heels. Keep your arms active; don't let your elbows touch the ground.

3. Drop your forehead to the floor or to a blanket and let your neck relax. Keep a slight curve in your lower back. To feel a nice long stretch in your spine, press the hands down and stretch through the arms while pulling your hips back toward your heels.

4. Breathe into your back, feeling the spine lengthen in both directions. Hold for 30 seconds to a minute, then release your buttocks down onto your heels.

5. Feel great!

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Garden Decoration Treats. Fun Finds for your Organic Garden.

I was looking for some treats for my garden and found these so I thought I would share them with you! Enjoy!



Inspirational message rocks from sjengravings.





Copper Garden tags from MakeThyme on Etsy.





Cute Garden Signs care of MetalGardenArt.





Fun Garden Flags care of Magpie and Cake.





Lovely Starfish Birdhouse from JHannah.





Antique up-cycled silver garden markers from Hammerman.

Happy Gardening!

Salts ;)

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Yoga Pose of the Week! The Lion Pose!


Lion Pose (Simhasana):
Step by Step

1. Kneel on the floor and cross the front of the right ankle over the back of the left. The feet will point out to the sides. Sit back so the perineum snuggles down onto the on the top (right) heel.

2. Press your palms firmly against your knees. Fan the palms and splay your fingers like the sharpened claws of a large feline.

3. Take a deep inhalation through the nose. Then simultaneously open your mouth wide and stretch your tongue out, curling its tip down toward the chin, open your eyes wide, contract the muscles on the front of your throat, and exhale the breath slowly out through your mouth with a distinct "ha" sound. The breath should pass over the back of the throat.

4. Some texts instruct us to set our gaze (drishti) at the spot between the eyebrows. This is called "mid-brow gazing" (bhru-madhya-drishti; bhru = the brow; madhya = middle).Other texts direct the eyes to the tip of the nose (nasa-agra-drishti; nasa = nose; agra = foremost point or part, i.e., tip).

5. You can roar two or three times. Then change the cross of the legs and repeat for the same number of times.

This is a great pose for releasing stress!

Have you been watching Sifting Realities yet?

Sifting Realities is a great new You Tube series written and directed by Meghan Ciana Doidge. Salts dressed the main character in the series in several episodes. Here is the most current episode where Belinda, the main actress is wearing the Salts Be Cozy hoodie. Be sure to watch the rest of the episodes! Zombies, cookies, sex, guns and love triangles! It Doesn't get any better then that!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Chubby Bubbies Baby Leggings needed for the ICU.


Today I received this heartbreaking letter. I had no idea my Chubby Bubby Baby leggings had such a use. Please read the letter below.

We recently lost a baby girl to a rare genetic disorder shortly before she turned 5 months. While in the hospital she was only able to wear these baby leggings because of her ventilator and heart monitor. We are now collecting baby legwarmers to send up to the ICU she stayed at in her name. We're reaching out to our etsy friends for help with this so if you can help us out with this project, please contact me!
Thank you so much!
Olga


Needless to say I was brought to tears and sent our a package right away. If you would like to purchase some Chubby Bubbies baby legging to donate you may do so on our etsy store. I am offering the leggings at half price and we will mail them to the ICU for you. Follow this link to purchase Donation Leggings.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Happy Earth Week!!


What is Earth Week? It was created by a committee of students, professionals, leaders of grass roots organizations and businessmen concerned about the environment. It began in 1970. It's designed to encourage environmentally-aware behaviors, such as recycling, using energy efficiently, and reducing or reusing disposable items.
When is Earth Week? It begins on April.16th, and ends on Earth day, which is April.22nd.
What Can You Do? There are major events organized all over the earth in support of Earth Week. There are clean-ups, festivals, fairs, and many other events. If you are interested in taking part in something like this, you can search for a suitable event by following the link at the bottom of this article!

It's time to appreciate our Earth!

Find An Event In Your Area click Here.

Much Love,
Salts

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Yoga for Headaches Sequence. A short yoga pattern for to relieve Headaches.


HEADACHE SEQUENCE (minimum time 25 minutes, maximum time 45 minutes)

Balasana (Child's Pose)
Perform either with your head on the floor, or with your torso and head supported on a bolster positioned between your thighs. The bolster's long axis should be parallel to your torso. (Total time 3 to 5 minutes.)

Janu Sirsasana (Head-to-Knee Pose)
Support your head either on a bolster laid across your extended leg, or, if you're less flexible, on the front edge of a padded chair seat. Hold each side for 1 to 3 minutes; total time 2 to 6 minutes.

Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog)
Support your head on a bolster or block. (Total time 1 to 2 minutes.)

Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend)
Place your head and crossed forearms supported on a padded chair seat. (Total time 1 to 3 minutes.)

Supta Baddha Konasana (Reclining Bound Angle Pose)
Support the torso on a rolled blanket underneath and parallel to your spine. (Total time 3 to 5 minutes.)

Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Supported Bridge Pose)
Support the torso on a bolster, and shoulders and head resting lightly on the floor. (Total time 3 to 5 minutes.)

Viparita Karani (Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose)
Let the pelvis be support either on a bolster or rolled blanket. (Total time 3 to 5 minutes.) To avoid any possibility of straining your back when exiting, be sure not to twist off the support. Either 1) slide off the support first before turning to your side, or 2) bend your knees, press your feet against the wall, and with an inhalation lift your pelvis off the support; then slide the support off to one side, lower your pelvis to the floor, and turn onto your side.

Savasana (Corpse Pose)
Take normal inhalations but lengthen the exhalations as much as is comfortable for you. If you normally take 5 counts on an exhalation, extend it to 7 or 8 counts if possible. At the end of the first 10 or so exhalations, pause for 2 to 5 seconds before drawing the next inhalation. (Total time 1 to 15 minutes.)

**please contact your health-care professional before beginning any workout routine.****

Build your own yoga sequence from The Yoga Journal here!


Namaste!
Salts

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

More Great info on the Bamboo Clothing Debate!


There are pros and cons to everything...I have been doing some more research on Bamboo fabrics and came accross this article on the Fashion Take Action Website.

I found the article very thorough and very fair. I have adopted a "wait and see" policy with bamboo. I will use a tiny bit from reputable sources and mix it with the largest amount of organic cotton that I can and see if the bamboo fiber suppliers will evolve to be more accountable like the cotton industry had to become years ago. The research continues though! Keep me posted if you come across any factual info on Bamboo fibers (with true science behind it please!). I totally agree with Lorraine Smith in the article above that its hard to get real facts because the industry isn't being as open as it should about the processes involves. The Saga of Bamboo continues! I would love to hear your opinions, yea or nea to bamboo?

This hoodie shown in the picture is my Be Cozy Hemp Organic Cotton Hoodie. Ahh hemp, you have such little controversy these days....

Kick it! Tom Rand's Video about Climate Change and Alternative Fuels.

Check out this video from Tom Rand on YouTube. He does a great job of explaining alternative fuels and uses for them.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Earth Hour 2010!


Tonight, Saturday March 27th, from 8:30-9:30 is Earth Hour. For those who have not yet heard of this event, I will fill you in. Every year, on the same date, people all around the globe turn their lights off for one hour. Last year hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour. It is meant to be a global call to action for everyone on this planet, and it raises awareness on topics like climate change. It is such a simple campaign to become involved with, and it only takes one hour out of your year! So, make sure to flick off the switch at 8:30 tonight.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

What the Deal with Bamboo Clothing? Is it good is it evil?


So... Bamboo Fabric Clothing has been getting some press lately with the recent US and Canadian changes to labeling requirements. You used to label bamboo clothing just Bamboo. Now clothing producers have to label the products Viscose from Bamboo or Rayon from Bamboo. As a clothing designer that uses Bamboo derived fabrics I am all for this. Transparency in product labeling is very important. A lot of consumers are confused about Greener products and want to know more, but some just want to buy a Bamboo T because it feels good to wear and last well. I have been researching quite a bit on this topic and wanted to chime in my two cents on why I will still use a bit of Bamboo Fabric in our Eco friendly line Salts Clothing.

When I started to make clothing out of alternative fabrics in 2005 the selection was slim for quality colorful fabrics, in recent years the fabrics available have been getting better and better. The first soy shirts I made shrunk up funny and basically fell apart (don't worry I kept them for myself and ended up eventually using them as rags, I don't sell shirts that do that of course). Now Soy fabric clothing has come along way and wears and washing great. Better than cotton in some cases. The same is true for bamboo made into viscose and rayon. Processing Bamboo into rayon and viscose is a chemical intensive process that is essentially the same as making regular rayon. So the debate is out whether its a good alternative fiber. Many rayon's are made from beech and oak trees creating a similar fabric to bamboo often called Tencel or are simply labeled Rayon. To learn more about bamboo fabric production and the debate around it please check out this article by the CBC.

The rayon bamboo fabric that I use in Salts is mixed with a large amount of certified organic cotton and a touch of spandex. The organic cotton is great for sustainability and still allows the fabric to have the same touch and silky feel as rayon from bamboo straight up. The spandex (usually around 5-7% of the fiber makeup) helps the garment to move with the body and hold its shape. It offers some support as well in certain garments. I love the feel and wear ability of bamboo and on a personal level I think it still a great fabric even if some chemicals (like lye, used in soap making) are used in its production. Its is a trade off that's for sure, but when mixed with a large amount of organic cotton and made in a properly certified (look for Eco Tex or Skal certifications) facility where the water is treated to remove chemicals and kept in a closed circuit system (not pumped out into the water table) it can be an great substitution for athletic wear fabrics like Polyester.

At Salts Clothing we also used hemp, soy, organic wool and linen in our clothing. Each has its own special use. Wool and Merino is great for wet west coast winters. Hemp is very sustainable and Eco friendly and is warmer to wear in the winter then organic cotton and Rayon from Bamboo. Soy fabric is made from by product which makes it very green. Organic cotton is Eco friendly and breathes well, good for mixing with the other fibers and wearing in summer or winter. Organic Cotton, Hemp, linen, and wool are termed "natural fibers" because they are manually not chemically processed into the thread used to make the fabric. Keep in mind though that regular cotton, is also termed "natural" but is one of the biggest polluters in the world.

From personal wearing I have found clothing made from Bamboo to be terrific for humid summer weather and for traveling. I can't scientifically say it wicks but I know that when I put it on over my wet swimsuit as a cover up it doesn't show the moisture through and drys much faster than hemp or cotton. I am certain now that the fabric industry is aware it needs the scientific data to prove the wicking properties, the data will be emerging very soon. I have already heard from some suppliers that they are testing right now to back up their wicking claims. I also know that Rayon from Bamboo feels lighter and cleaner to wear in hot weather. You can test it for yourself by wearing different shirts on a hot day. The temperature difference can actually be felt. Wearing Rayon from Bamboo when traveling in tropical countries has also been great. It doesn't pick up smells and doesn't hold wrinkles. This is my experience with Bamboo fabrics as a user.

For winter and fall collections I use more hemp, Organic Wool and Soy because it works better in those seasons. For summer I will continue to use a bit of bamboo derived fabrics because they work great in hotter weather and for fitness wear. I much rather the feel of rayon from bamboo on my skin than polyester (made from petroleum). Rayon from Bamboo is not a perfectly sustainable fabric but it has its place in Eco Fashion when mixed with a high content of organic cotton and made responsibly in my opinion. I am going to continue to research the future of this fabric though. Stay tuned! If you have more info please comment, I would love to learn more.

Much Love,
Jenny

Salts Clothing Designer

PS, I have found some new great fabrics that have a higher content of Organic Cotton then Rayon from Bamboo but still keep that "bamboo fabric" feel....stay tuned to check them out in future collections. More organic cotton means more sustainable but with the lovely "bamboo" texture

PPS the photos above are from the Salts Spring 2010 collection. The Black tops are hemp organic cotton, the red skirt (laughter skirt) is Rayon from Bamboo and Organic cotton and the brown skirt (lana skirt) is soy organic cotton.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

What is eco-fashion?

According to wikipedia, Eco-fashion is "a part of the growing design philosophy and trend of sustainability, the goal of which is to create a system which can be supported indefinitely in terms of environmentalism and social responsibility."
This is true, of course, but let me put it into a simpler sentence for you. Eco-fashion is a way to reduce your carbon footprint, support fair farming techniques, and look groovy! Choosing Eco-fashion does not mean that you have to sacrifice style! Many people associate natural fibres with scratchy, itchy, unshapley, and unattractive. This is deffinatly not the case.
So, what turns a fabulous outfit into an fabulously eco-friendly outfit?

Organic materials:
Choosing an organic material benefits the earth, and the people living on it! Studies are starting to show that the chemicals used in growing cotton may remain in the fabric. These chemicals could be absorbed by the wearer, through sweating. They are not entirely sure what these chemicals will cause, but why take an unnecessary risk?

Sustainable materials:
If a material is not organic, it can still be sustainable. This means that it is made from a plant which can be replanted (and regrown) without harming our environment. For example, bamboo is a still considered to be sustainable if it has been chemically sprayed.

Plant-Based Dyes:
Wonderful organic materials can become less eco-friendly when dyed with synthetic, heavy metal based dyes or dyes otherwise dangerous to the workers who make the clothing, the earth or the wearer. Choosing a product which has been treated with a healthy, plant-based dye means less chemical exposure to our earth.

Free trade practices:
A large difference in eco-friendly fashion is the way that it is manufactured and finally sold. The freetrade practices test will fail companies if the employees making the clothing are not paid a livable wage, or if the working conditions are substandard and hazardous. So some good clothing, made from organic materials, may lose merit for having unfare work regulations.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Support Meat Free Monday

Have you been searching for a simple way to improve your carbon footprint, personal health, and make a positive change on a global level? Your search may well be over. Why not try "Meat Free Monday"? It's an unbelievable way to achieve all the positive goals listed above, and it's so very easy. What is this all about then, you may be asking by now. Well, it's simple. All you have to do is avoid eating meat for ONE day each week. Be it Monday, Thursday, whatever, the goal is to go for a whole day without consuming meat. That's all!
Now, you may be asking what this has got to do with saving our earth? And here is your answer: Everything! The United Nations released a statement stating that the livestock industry as a whole is responsible for more Greenhouse Gas emissions then the whole transport sector combined! The livestock production produce a huge 18% of our earth's GHG's. Wow. So, by taking part in this campaign you are adding your voice to the outcry for less meat production. Sound good to you? Check out their website: http://www.supportmfm.org/index.cfm

If your daunted by the thought of preparing three vegetarian meals each week, the campaign releases a new meat-free recipe each Monday. (For example, this week's was Green Bean Salad). This makes it much more difficult to find an excuse not to participate! And did I mention that it is run by Sir Paul McCartney and his daughters Stella and Mary?

A chance to adopt a healthier lifestyle, reducing your carbon footprint, and supporting a positive future for our earth.
Why not give it a try this Monday?

Friday, January 29, 2010

My Top Business Tips. How to sell more!

Hi all,
I just hit 200 sales for clothing in a year on etsy.com check my store out at www.Salts.etsy.com. I have had a etsy store since 2007 but just started using it in December last year. Boy do I regret not using it sooner! I am averaging about 15 sales a month, not thrilling but for me its been a huge bonus that allows me to spend more time at home with my baby and away from my brick and mortar store. It basically helps pay for the staff on hand at my brick store which is freeing me up to be creative! Yeah!

So I have had a clothing design biz for 5 years now and "actively" selling on etsy for 1 year. I want to pass on some of my top business tips for getting your biz started, selling online and selling in general. Please let me know any tips you have as well and we can all make our businesses more successful together!

1. Make Connections. You have all heard it. Its not what you know but who you know. That is the truest words ever spoken. I have gotten some of my greatest supply leads for chatting with other designers at markets who then became friends and eventually we shared our sources. You never know who someone knows or how someone can help you so always be open to a fun conversation and a new friend.

2. Be Seasonal. Plan your production in advance of the seasons and pre-sell your product wholesale as much as you can. This will lower your cost substantially and increase your profits. You will buy more fabric at once (lower prices), sell more at once (more people will see your stuff) and spend less time packing/shipping/selling because you will be shipping all your wholesale at the same seasonal time. Right now I am putting together my Fall 2010 catalog, my dream is to be almost a full year ahead by Spring 2011. That mean I am putting together the catalog in the spring of this year!

Worried about trends? You can get a good feel for whats going to be trendy by checking out trend forecasting magazines or checking out street styles online (try googling Japan or Europe street styles if your in North America). Or be a true artist and make your own trends!

3. Start your Day with Sales! Do your sales calls first thing in the morning. By sales calls I mean the things that will make you the sales (could be email, message return or sending your catalog requests out). Make a goal. My goal right now is to contact 3 people via phone or email every morning and try to sell them some clothing (in a discreet respectful way of course). Its could be a new store that you want to sell to or checking in on a store you already have. Go through your old sales and check in with old customers to see how they are liking what they bought and if they need anything right now. Make this your priority. The only thing that makes you money in Business is sales!

4. Talk your self up! I am just getting the knack of this. People want to be associated with positive, amazing people living their dream. People also largely believe what you tell them (insert tongue in cheek here). Tell them your are awesome, tell them your stuff is awesome (its true isn't it), tell them your life and friends are awesome. Tell them that you work really hard and love what you do. When your having a bad day stay home and be creative and don't talk to anyone (other than your good friends) about it. You customers need to be your fans don't taint that with negativity. Talk your self up (with out being obnoxious of course) and your customers will want to be a part of what your doing and support you. Its like magic!

5. OUTSOURCE! Once people start to hear about you and you have a bit of flow, you can start hiring folks to do all the "non-creative" things that suck away your time. Bookkeeping, shipping, cleaning...etc. Anything you can delegate. This is important to free your self up to look at the bigger picture and plan your next "awesome" attack. Why sit around doing books when you could be selling more? Why clean when you can hire a neighborhood kid to do and then you go out and sell more!? WARNING: this tip only works if you free up your time to sell more. It does not work if you free up your time to pick your nose and watch Oprah.

6. Little details are what make people come back. Add cute coupons to your orders for your customer to give to their friends. That way when your customer is asked, "Hey, I love that Be Cozy Wrap hoodie where did you get it?", instead of saying "oh it was a online shop, uh, S-something, maybe it was Smarts? Yeah Smarts Clothing thats it. I think." they will say, "ohhh its Salts Clothing, here's a discount card dear friend, now you can go get your own for a great price. They gave me these cute cards so I could remember their name when you asked because their stuff is so awesome."! Beauty. Now you just made another sale with very little effort.

7. Give cards to your friends in other industries so that when they talk about you and someone is interested, they can say, oh yeah, I have her card in my wallet, let me get it for you. My best friend works on movie sets in Vancouver. Even though shes been doing it for awhile now it just dawned on us last night that I should give her some cards to have on hand. Duh?! Sometimes you just overlook these things. In the meantime shes worked with Halle Berry, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Eddie Vedder and countless others....she could have passed my card over every time if we had thought of it....she talks about my clothing, but that's not enough. No one is going to remember a company when they hear about it the first time. It takes 3-5 times hearing about something until it occurs to them to check it out (if its something that they are into). So give your lawyer, doctor, esthetician, hair dresser, babysitter...etc some of your cards so that if you ever come up in conversation they can pass your card on.

Hope you have enjoyed my tips! Please let me know yours!

Also you can join my facebook page at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Salts-Organic-Clothing-and-Studio-Boutique/7933958494?v=info

Please follow my blog for more riveting tips at:
http://salts-organic.blogspot.com/

Twitter:
www.twitter.com/SaltsClothing

Sign up for the Newsletter at www.SaltsOrganic.com

Looking forward to your feedback!!

Love,
Jenny