Shoes with a conscience

You may know by now that...I'm obsessed with shoes!

Unlike pants, I seldom have an issue fitting into shoes.

I'm willing to pay more for shoes that have not only a nice style, but comfort and quality.

Enter into the picture Naya Shoes. Have no clue what I'm talking about? Stick around and be impressed.

Naya is a forward thinking, eco-friendly shoe company. You can follow them on Twitter too!

Naya uses natural and eco-friendly materials:

• Vegetable-tanned leathers and linings
• Natural or recycled content fabrics
• Water-based cements
• Footbeds containing natural cork
• Boxes made with 80% recycled paper pulp, soy-based inks and water-based glue

The comfort is oh.so.comfortable!

"We infuse each style with pure comfort using soft leathers, breathable leather linings and layers of premium cushioning."

As Naya says: Good for you and for the Earth!

I first stumbled on Naya at Sears (shock!). Yes, that's right, I saw their shoes on display and was instantly drawn to the craftsmanship and array of vivid shoe colours...yellow shoes (see below) and green shoes, among others. Nicely designed and with great attention to detail, all for a reasonable price point.


I tried on a pair and was reveling in the soft, cushiony insole and how butter soft the leather was. Very soft leather means no blister or sore spots. So I purchased a pair of their gladiator sandals back in June and I have been living in these sandals all Summer! Not a single blister I tell you.


A few weeks ago, Naya sent out a Tweet asking their followers if anybody would like to review their Fall shoes on their blog. Being a shoe fanatic and having previously owned (and loved!) a pair of Naya shoes, I offered to review a pair of Naya shoes from the Fall line. I am writing this review without payment and without an exchange of free merchandise. Just because I love shoes!

Naya has launched their Fall line and after I perused their on-line Fall catalogue, I instantly swooned over several pairs of their shoes. The one shoe design in particular, which caught my eye was the oxford-style shoe or as it is named in the Naya catalogue "Jasper." (Btw, these shoes are not mine, I'm borrowing them for this write up!)




What a stunning, vintage-inspired design. Satiny ribbon laces. The trademark Naya soft cushion sole is evident as soon as you slide your foot in the shoe. The exterior of the shoe reminded me of a modern, feminine version of the saddle shoe, but instead of the classic two-tone black and white, there are two contrasting materials: wool and leather. It's very feminine yet tailored. Perfect for this Fall's tweed or woolen pant suits. The heel is almost 3 inches high (way higher than I tend to wear) but it didn't feel very high (when I tried it on) probably due to the chunky heel. The heel also has a rustic look to it, further adding to it's vintage charm. Think 1900s Victorian boot meets 1940s glam.


If you're not feeling the rustic wood heel? That's okay because Naya has plenty of different shoes for you to choose from. Check out their Fall line. Try on a pair and you will be glad you did. Sleep peacefully knowing you are doing something good for your feet and for the environment.

"Renewing body, spirit, earth"

Will you be switching off your lights?

Did you know that North Americans consume more energy than any other country? Even countries that have a vastly higher population like China and India, use significantly less electricity than the United States and Canada.

Did you know that light pollution can effect the environment?

Did you know that lighting can also affect human health? "Research has been being done on the subject for years and it is well known that indoor fluorescent lighting can cause many health problems such as migraine headaches, fatigue, irritability and many other health conditions."(www.earthaffairs.com)

Did you know that continuous lighting may destroy crops, trees and even wildlife?
"Light pollution is defined as the lightening of the night sky due to artificial light being scattered about, it is also known as sky glow. Unnecessary light not only wastes massive amounts of electricity, but it adversely affects wildlife as well." (www.earthaffairs.com)

Do you want to know what you can do to make a positive change? Read this.

For further information, here is the link to the World Wildlife Federation Fund (WWF).

Lights out!!


A lot will be happening in Canada on March 29th!

Canada has one of the highest participation rates around the globe with over 150 cities participating! Check below for a list of some events and some of the iconic buildings and landmarks that will be turning off their lights Saturday. Check your local news for more events near you or host your own Earth Hour Celebration for your friends and neighbours.

HALIFAX:
The MacDonald Bridge, City Hall, Parade Square, Halifax Water Commission's main building and Nova Scotia Community College

OTTAWA:
The Parliament Buildings

NIAGARA:
Niagara Falls

TORONTO:
CN Tower, Toronto Eaton Centre, Fairmont Royal York Hotel and Honest Ed's

Nathan Phillips Square - 6:45pm free concert featuring Nelly Furtado!

Toula Restaurant, Westin Harbour Castle - special "$60 Earth Hour" Dinner Menu

Library Bar, Fairmont Royal York - special "cocktail hour", including specially mixed drinks in honour of Earth Hour

David Dunlop Observatory, Richmond Hill - at dusk, star gazing

Murphy's Law Pub, The Beach - special candle light dinner with menu prepared by chef Shayne Legassie, featuring unique cold foods! 1702 Queen Street East

Public Pot Luck Dinner - 5:30 to 7:30pm, with candle light parade around the park and along the Danforth @ 7:30pm. Bring food reusable dishes and cutlery. All welcome.

Candle Light Yoga - with proceeds going to WWF-Canada.

• The Big Stretch, 1560 Bayview Avenue Suite 303, 416-486-4448
• Fireflow Yoga, 172 Eglinton Avenue East 2nd floor (3 blocks east of Yonge & Eglinton), 416-839-6621
• Moksha Yoga Downtown, 860 Richmond Street, 416-737-8936

VANCOUVER:
Science World of British Columbia, Olympic Flag, City Hall Clock, VanCity, BC Hydro, City of Vancouver, Lions Gate Bridge, Cambie Street Bridge, Burrard Street Bridge and Harbour Tower

HARTLEY BAY, BC:
Whole community!

I'm an Ecoholic.

I've been reading this book for a couple of days and I highly recommend it. I borrowed the book from the library but I am actually considering getting my own copy. It's a great reference book. If you haven't yet become aware of the many environmental issues surrounding our daily lives as well as the impact it has to our health - I suggest you have a peek into this book by Canadian writer Adria Vasil.

This book is chock full of tips and suggestions on alternative products that replace the harsh chemical based and environmentally destructive ones, found on the shelves of our local drug stores and supermarkets.

From cosmetics (my weakness) to household cleaners (I use vinegar to mop my floors) to food and clothing and everything in-between. This book addresses ways to make the switch from using for instance, an antiperspirant that is full of cancer-causing chemicals to an alternative and safer deodorant from 'Green Beaver Company' (a Canadian company, naturally).

Case in point, for the past 6 months I had been using a roll-on deodorant that clearly stated "No Aluminum Chlorohydrate" right on the cap. This week I made the switch to a deodorant from 'Green Beaver Company' when I discovered (by reading 'Ecoholic') that my regular deodorant's ingredients (listed right on the package in uber tiny font), actually contained formaldehyde. Yup, that's right - a cancer causing agent, that I was strategically applying to my armpits day after day, right next to my lymph nodes. Disgusting and scary!

So basically, the villain deodorant is from a company that makes OMBRA bath and hygiene products. They were touting their products as being "alternative" by removing the agent that is known for causing Alzheimer's - yet they added a slew of other harmful agents thus creating a misleading product for people concerned about what they put on their skin.

If you are ready to stop supporting companies that only care about making millions by selling their toxic chemical laden products, get your hands on a copy of this book.

Even if you only make one change in your daily regime, it's a positive change that will help you and the environment around you.

Disclaimer: I do not work for the 'Green Beaver Company' nor am I related to Adria Vasil. I am not pitching these products for any other reason other than to talk about my health and yours.