International Kissing Day! MOUAH!!

July 6th, it is International kissing day!

That day, Lush invites you to their Sainte-Catherine store to help them to set a new Guinness world record between 11 am & 3 pm.

Yes, the brand who fights since forever against animal testing wants to collect as many lip prints as possible in only one day.

For more details, click here!

Cannot be there ?

You can still participate!

Take a picture of your kiss and publish it on Instagram or Twitter with the #crueltyfreekisses hashtag.

You could win a full set of their Emotional Brilliance collection.

lush.ca

I can't wait to see the pictures!


I hope to see you participate!

What's the difference between a rat, a banana and you ?

 

 

 

 

 

veganism is the future

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The vegetarian baby

Here's a video you may see a lot lately on the web

In Portuguese (Brazil) with English subtitles

I want to adopt him!

A beautiful color

It's summer and we love to use vibrant colors on our nails.
But no need to spend a fortune to buy new nail polish colors !

Here's a trick I saw on youtube, I don't remember exactly where.

You only have to put a first layer of white.
Then you can put the color you want.

I would suggest the LA Colors white which costs about $ 2 at Jean Coutu or the essence white at Pharmaprix for about the same price.
The bottle of LA Colors is a bit bigger.

Since we won't see the white, no need to spend a lot on it :-)

 

 

I do not know if you can see the difference between the two fingers, but the left one is more pimpant.

I do not think the picture does justice to the colors.

 

Obviously, once you have completed your manicure, you will not see any white around.
As I did this as a test, I have not put much effort into it.

 

This technique works well with colors that are already vibrant but for which you want even more sparkle!

 

I used SpaRitual Dreamsicle color

 

 

Tea is ready!

Some nice David's Tea

Why am I talking about tea ? Because animal testing can go that far...

Around a year ago, PETA found out that Lipton was doing it for its teas.
Thanks to the organisation's work and to the public reaction, Lipton that belongs to Unilever, did put an end to the testing. (only for the tea, not for the other products!)

If you want to know more about that, you may click here.



That is why I also check teas now.  :-)

I wrote (in french) to David's tea and got an answer that is really clear :
No animal testing on ingredients, formulations or finished products.
They make sure their suppliers don't do animal testing either.

When you write to a brand, you should always expect an answer that is that clear. That's the only way you'll be able to tell if the brand is Cruelty-free or not.


Now, let's talks about the teas!

Iced teas

Since summer is almost here, let's look at some iced teas!
There is 39 different flavours at David's tea.

I'm pretty sure you'll find one you will like :)  Here are some examples:



coconut grove



kiwis big adventure

citron oolong



midsummer night's dream



mango fruit punch





 

a dog with rythm!

It is totally not what I talk about usually!

But this video is way to funny to not share it   :-)

Mother's day !

The month of May is the return of spring and the sun but also the return of Mother's Day!
This year, it's the 12th it happens!

Here are few gifts ideas

A vegan Matt & Nat bag and wallet ?

 

 

 

 

 

 A Lush bath flower ? Or a bouquet ?

 

Some DAVIDsTEA ?
 

A perfume ?

 

 

 

 

 

Makeup brushes ?

 

 

 

 

 

Tickets for the Continuum show ?

in Montreal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What will you give your mother this year ? 

 

 

 

 

 

Staedtler vs BIC

Not too long ago, I have put BIC on the wall of shame.
I know many of you were surprised.

Here's an alternative !

Yes, you know that brand.
The famous eraser!


Staedtler also makes pencils!

That's the perfect alternative to the BIC ones

Staedler is PETA approved

 

Hey Green Beaver !! Knock Knock Knoc?? Is there anyone ???

I'm done. I'm fed up. I'm putting Green Beaver on my wall of shame!

I'm fed up of these brands that think they just can ignore their client's email.
As if the money they earn wouldn't come from our pockets!!

There are so many brands that don't answer when I ask them about their animal testing policy.

I work for the Internet department of a huge insurance company.
I do answer customer's emails in their name 5 days a week.
(I have other tasks, don't worry about my mental health!)

I know that sometimes customers ask quite difficult questions. I don't always know what to say right away to them.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT ? I do answer each email.


That doesn't seem to be important to do the same at Green Beaver...

I wrote them twice in the last few months.
I would have asked ''grass'' a question, i would have been more likely to get an answer.

I'm not asking Green Beaver to tell me what's the meaning of life or if they're capable to confirm the existence of Nessie!

NO! I'm asking simple questions.


Are the ingredients in their products, their formulas or their finished products tested on animals?
Either by themselves or by third parties authorized to do so?

Does Green Beaver ensures that their suppliers do not test on animals either themselves or by authorized third parties (ingredients, formulas, finished products)

Do they sell their products in a country where animal tests are required?
(such as China)




Hey! clerck@greenbeaver.com , if you don't understand the questions, tell me!
I can explain !!!!



While waiting (let's be honest, I'm not waiting anymore), I'm not buying any Green Beaver product.

There's a good chance there's no animal testing.
However, this brand doesn't show on PETA or Leaping Bunny's lists
(I haven't find one single trustworthy organisation that has that brand on their good list yet)

As for their customer service ?? Let's not say anything.
I don't think we'll see them win a JD Power soon.


P.S. :  Saying on your website ''NOT tested on animals'' doesn't mean anything !
What is not tested on animals ? The final product only ?


P.P.S. : There are so many other brands that don't answer...

SW 6738, better known as Vegan !

When there's a paint color called Vegan!!

Seen on Instagram!

I'm siiiiiiiick!

I have a cold.
Or a flu.
Whatever, I don't know what's the difference.
I've been told a million of times, but my brain refuses to stok that information.

I'm siiiiick and I hate it...  :-(

But I don't feel like taking medication just because!
We all know that it is tested on animals, and the flu or colds eventually go alone.

But still...

If I look on the Internet, there are all kinds of ways to treat the flu (or cold) naturally ...


''drink some rhum and go to bed!''

''drink some grog'' (what is that sh*t ?)

There's also a mixture of ''zatar''... sounds even worse than grog!

''thyme essence in milk''


Can we have some suggestions with stuff we have at home please?

I'm sick and I have no desire to run to the store to get a product that is impossible to find!


Anyway, not sure grandma's methods are for me.


I'll just go with Jamieson.
It's cruelty free and approved by PETA !

Now, I have to go to the drugstore ... Wish me good luck ...

Against Static!

I recently discovered these reusable static eliminator & softener dryer clothes from the Canadian brand Attitude.

It is good for 300 uses.

If you are doing three drying / week, you're good for 100 weeks, almost 2 years...

Two years without having to think to buy the product!


Obviously, it is more environmentally friendly than disposable dryer sheets.
There's a waste every two years instead of every time you use it.

This product costs 12$ and  is good for 300 uses.
That is equivalent to 4 cents per drying ...

Is it economical enough to your liking?



If you buy the disposable sheets, and you want to make 300 drying using only one sheet at a time, it would cost you 18$.

And I base my calculation on the cheapest sheets I found on IGA's website.

For all these reasons, I decided to buy and try.


There are 2 clothes in the box are used together in one load.

It has been several times that I use the dryer clothes and the result is the same as the disposable sheets give you.
I have no static problem, I did not notice any difference in my clothes.
My clothes are as soft as they were with disposable sheets.

The only difference is that it does not leave a fragrant odor on clothes unlike some disposable sheets.

Having the same result as the standard product, but that is more environmentally friendly and more economical, it is not a difficult choice to make.
Plus, it is CRUELTY FREE!!


For the next two years, I do not think I'll talk about other dryer sheets... lolll
:-)

Tested on me!

Since it is not possible to verify ourselves if a cosmetic brand does animal testing or not, we have no other choice than trust its word.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to know if a brand is being honest and this leaves a possibility that we buy animal tested products even if we don't want to.


That's why I'm suggesting this homemade scrub today.


Since you are the one making it with simple ingredients, you are sure it is cruelty free.

I have modified the classical honey-brown sugar since I wanted a vegan scrub.
For those of you who'd like to know why, you may click here.

I used agave syrup which is more liquid than honey.

As for the quantities, we go as we do it.
We mix the 2 ingredients until it has the aspect we're looking for.

Then, you just have to use!


The sugar exfoliates well and agave syrup binds it all.
Obviously, it's a little sticky but not too much.

The exfoliating effect is as good as the one you would get with the store-bought product and much more economical.



Let me know how you like it!

Liebster Award - Cruelty Free edition

Robyn, from Diary of a Disney Diva's blog nominated me for a Liebster Award.   Thank you!!

If you click on the link, you'll see she makes beautiful manicures and uses (as much as she can ) cruelty free products.

Liebster what ?

It's like a chain of letters, with a difference : we share blogs that we love!

But it doesn't mean there's no rules !

Here they are :


1- Once nominated, you have to publish about it on your blog & of course, thank the person who nammed you by linking to his or her blog.

2- In your post, you have to tell us 11 facts about you.

3- You'll also have to answer the 11 questions the person who nammed you left on his or her blog.

4- Choose 11 other bloggers with under 200 followers to nominate (not the person who nominated you), link to their blog and make sure you let them know they are nominated.

5- Choose 11 questions you want to be answered

6- The new nominees have to do the same, so the chain goes on!


Let's begin!

11 facts about me

Everyday, I think about Io
(2000-01-24  -  2011-09-28)

If I had only 1 wish , I would like to have her back into my life. Even if it meant I would have to take care of a diabetic dog once again.

I'm a personal line damage insurance agent

 

And I need a license to work. Every year, AMF renews it curiously...
It's obvious they don't know me!

When you work in the insurance field, you get to hear many weird things...

''Is my house covered by my policy if the wind gets in the house and blows up the roof ?''
Euhhh...

'' Is my house covered if I destroy it in order to build a new one ? ''  What about no ? loll

My parents came from Azores to Canada in the 70's

 

I suppose they were like '' yeah! it will be lots of fun when it will be minus 30!!''
I don't think it's funny... Really...I don't... loll

 

I have a broken finger, did you notice ?

 

But I got lots of karma points in exchange, so I don't really mind.

Guess which one it is !

I'm vegetarian, becoming vegan & here's what I prefer to eat :

sprouts
mushrooms
couscous
chocolate & caroub!!
quinoa
seitan
etc etc etc

I sneeze like a cat, 8 times in a row and gracefully! People ask if I sneeze of cough!

I believe in Karma

 

that's what forbids me from doing a lot of stupid stuff !

I'm an animal trapped in a human body !

And I have more compassion for them than for people in general.

I live at Smarty's place. She's my 10 years old german shepperd.

I'm kinda lucky she lets me sleep in the bed!

As a child, I used to marry my barbies to my brother's GI Joes...

I had no Ken & I couldn't let them single!
I wonder if my brother knows ?!

I dream about Galapagos Islands

 

As long as I don't get bitten by a Komodo Dragon!
Seriously, I'd love to be an amateur Darwin :)

My answers to Robyn's 11 questions 

What is your favourite city?

Since I don't really travel, I'm not an expert
But I can say my hometown Montreal is really nice! There's potholes everywhere!




What is your favourite manicure that someone else has done?

A manicure I really like is this one by Robyn :
Jolly Roger Nails  great for halloween.
Click on the link to see :-)



What is your favourite manicure that you have done?

I'm far from being a pro when it comes to doing my own manicures.
Curioulsy, my right hand is never as well done as the left one! loll
But I'm getting better at it, and now I can do pretty french manicures. : )
I love that look, it's classy and ready for any kind of activity!




What is your favourite film?

Persepolis
This film is based on Marjane's true story.
Raised in Iran, sent to Europe when the war was going on.
She has to face the cultural differences.
Something you should see if you didn't already !

What is your favourite holiday?

I'd say Christmas, since there's always few work days off!
Serioulsy, I also enjoy Easter, but it's only one day off...




What is your favourite book?

Les fourmis - Bernard Werber
Can't tell what was going through this writer's mind!!




What is your favourite Disney character?

Pan Pan, that's his name in french : )
Also, he's a small rabbit that hops!! mouhahahaha






What would your last meal be?

I guess it would be grilled vegetables ! I love that!




What is your favourite Christmas song?

Fa la la - Bundock
Verry 80's!







What is your favourite Disney film?

Fantasia or Petit Âne




What is your favourite nail polish brand?

I'm torn between Spa Ritual & Soulstice Spa :)
Both vegan , cruelty free and excellent products!

These 11 bloggers are nominated !

I decided this Liebster Award would be a Cruelty Free one!
As required by the rules, they have less than 200 members on their blog.
Some of them don't even have a member section (so it's legal!! mouahahahahah)
I suggest you to take a look at their blogs.



Buying Cruelty Free
Dizzy Nicky's Makeup Amusement Park
La végé du quartier ouvrier (in french)
Le monde de Jess - Be nice with the bunnies (in french)
Lilac Lotus
Makeup Matters
Mo'adore
Mokajo (in french)
Nouveau Vegan (in french)
Végétalienne Intégrale (in french)
We don't eat anything with a face

And the 11 questions they have to answer !

1- I'm sure there is a question you wish I'd ask you. What is it & what's the answer to it ?

2- What is your favorite Cruelty Free product ?

3- For what reason did you start writing your blog ?

4- Who's your celebrity crush ?

5- What is your favorite tv show and why ?

6- What are your life projects ?

7- What would be your travel dream  ? ( no budget limit!)

8- If you could meet with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be ? And of course, why!

9- When you were a kid, what was the job you wanted to have as a grown up ?

10- If you could travel time, what would you do ?

11- If you were in charge of the planet & had all the powers (let's say you're a dictator), how would you rule the world & what would be your laws ? Don't forget that with great power comes great responsability!




I can't wait to see the answers of the nominees !!! :-)