I love the convenience of internet shopping, but I don’t like to pay for shipping.  Why?  Because shipping to Canada is often prohibitively expensive. This may not apply to all couriers, but it certainly does apply a few of the major ones.   Please let me explain.

The Problem

My first internet shopping experience was a disaster.  Not only did the company that I ordered a product from, lets call it PP (not there real name), make many errors, such as, shipping me a wrong format of the product I ordered but, my shipping charges on a $14.00 product was $23!  Taxes came to about $3, because company PP declared the value of my order to be $20.  And, this is the best part, the carrier company charged me over $17 for paperwork!

Bottom line, even if company PP didn’t make a shipping mistake and the value of my product was actually $20, I paid approximately $40 for shipping.  Thus, paying $60 for $20 worth of product is 3 times the price! Where is the saving?

Please note: not all the carriers will charge your $40 on a $20 item, this happened to me with UPS.  But the problem is that most US based online businesses will use UPS as their only carrier.  Then what?

The Solution

There are US based companies that offer “storage” and forwarding services with a US address for Canadians. They are conveniently located within minutes of the Canadian border along major highways.

I live in Montreal, we are about 50 minutes drive to the US border, and most major Canadian cities are located along the US border, 1 hour drive or less. 

How doest it work?

First do some research on the internet and find yourself a freight forwarding company near you and open an account with them.  The freight forwarding company I use is called ‘Freeport Forwarding’.  They will give you a US address, your number and they will explain to you how to proceed.  Then you are free to buy things online from US based companies that either don’t deliver to Canada or use carriers for delivery that cost too much.

In the case of Freeport Forwarding you will need to pick up your item in about two weeks time or less, from the time your product arrives at your freight forwarding company, otherwise additional storage fees are applied. After picking up your order you will stop at the border, pay whatever taxes and possibly duties that are required and you are done. (Please see the note at the end of this article about Canadian Border policies.)

More information about Freeport Forwarding can be found on their website: http://www.freeportforwarding.com .The people at Freeport Forwarding are easy to work with, friendly and kind.

Disadvantages

• If you are ordering one small item, your time and your gas will cost you a lot more.
• If the item you are interested in is available locally, then unless there is a significant saving by buying in the US, it may not be worth your effort.

Advantages

• If you are ordering several items at a time, the savings could cover your time and  gas.
• This is especially a great service when purchasing items that are not available in Canada.
• This is also good for items that are shipped within the US only.
• If you are planning to visit the US, you can time your trip to include a pick-up of your product(s) on the way home.  Or, if you have a friend or family member who is going to the US you can ask them to pick it up for you on their way home.
• You may hire someone to do this for you.  It will be conveniently delivered to your door.

The added bonus

• Shipping within the US is always cheaper and often free with a minimum order.

Bottom line, do the math and you will know if this makes economic sense to you. For my family it does. We buy several items at a time that are often not available in Canada and pick them up together with minimal effort and expense.

Note: To learn what you can bring across and what you can’t, and to learn about taxes and duty on items you are considering, please contact the Canadian Borders office at: 1800-461-9999.  I have contacted them many times.  They are actually very helpful.

If you have something to add, or you know of another company that does forwarding, near Montreal or other Canadian cities, please post your comments.  You will be helping others to save money and to obtain products, which are not available where they live.

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When you eat healthy and nutritious organic food, your body thanks you.You feel better, you head is clear, you have more energy and you’re in a good mood.When you exercise, you feel confident and full of energy.  When you relax and nourish your body, you feel content and happy.

Subconsciously, I always knew that.  Why subconsciously?  Because we do not always know how badly we feel, until we feel better.   At the same time, we don’t always know how well we are feeling, until we feel worse.

Why did I come up with such an obvious statement?

For the last couple of years, my husband and I have beenplanting trees,more him then me .   Sometimes its pouring rain, sometimes the heat is overbearing, sometimes the bugs are vicious, sometimes all of the above. But, we felt great, because we knew that we were doing the right thing.  It benefits our planet, our air, and our children.

This year, among other trees, Eddy planted fifty (50) white pine.  White pine is a magnificent tree.  It grows 50 meters plus.  But it takes 200 to 250 years to full maturity!  In our lifetime, we will never see those trees mature, the same goes for our children.  I certainly hope that we will have grandchildren and great grandchildren!

My point is, these trees are not for us.  But it felt good to plant them, because we know that we are doing the right thing!

Bottom line, healthy things always feel good.

Enjoy the pictures.

Tania

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Here are some statistics:

The average adult uses 9 personal care products daily exposing themselves to some 126 chemicals every day.

One third of all personal care products contain one or more ingredients classified as possible human carcinogens.

Over the last 30 years, only 9 of those 10,500 ingredients in personal care products have been banned or restricted

89% of those 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products have NOT been evaluated for safety.

These statistics are quoted on the homepage of Miessence, which is an Organic Beauty Products manufacturer.

I love organic and natural cosmetics. The simpler they are, the better.  Less processing, less refining and fewer ingredients equals fewer toxic chemicals, and less cost.

Here are my top picks:

Miessence organic skin, hair, body, oral care and more

Sibu Organic Beauty

If you want to know how your present cosmetics are standing up to healthy standards, please visit http://www.goodguide.com/ and  http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/

You can be beautiful and healthy at the same time.

Tania

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The company

‘Sibu Organic and Natural’ is a company that produces environmentally sound products which are based on one main ingredient – Himalayan Organic Sea Buckthorn.  Their products include organic sea buckthorn oils, natural cosmetics, sea buckthorn supplements and more at Sibu Beauty From the inside-out and ouside-in All-natural beauty system.

Why sea buckthorn?

I am familiar with sea buckthorn since I was a child back in Russia. My father grew it for its benefits and nutritional properties. Sea buckthorn is known for its high levels of vitamins and nutrients and is traditionally used for its many health benifits To see the list of active compounds and nutrients, please follow this link: Sibu Beauty From the inside-out and ouside-in All-natural beauty system.

My Experience

I personally use Sibu Organic Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil, which has only one ingredient – Organic Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil.  It comes in a small bottle, which usually lasts for quite a while.  I use it as a treat and as a treatment.  All you need is to massage few drops of this oil on your clean face and neck area.    It feels soft and wonderful on my face.

The colour of this oil is yellow and it makes your skin look softly tanned and velvety.  This oil will be absorbed quickly into your skin, leaving it feeling soft for the rest of the day.

I also use it at night to intensify the result.  My skin is starting to look radiant, after only a few days of daily and nightly use.

My over all experience with Sibu Beauty products has been very positive.  Sibu has an excellent line of products and their service as a fast and reliable.

For more information please visit Sibu Beauty From the inside-out and ouside-in All-natural beauty system.

You can be beautiful and healthy at the same time.

Tania

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Miessence organic cosmetics came to my attention recently.  I was very impressed by the variety of products and the purity of ingredients.  I was suspicious in the beginning and decided to run it by http://www.goodguide.com/ and  http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/.  These websites have consumer reports and databases that evaluate the safety of everyday products.

I was quite impressed by Miessence.  So much so, that for the first time in my 40 (forty) years, I decided to get involved in MLM (multi level marketing).

Some people may not like an MLM company, and it’s understandable.   But you don’t need to  be a member to purchase and to use organic cosmetics from Miessence.  That’s great!

Please follow the link Miessence to visit my Miessence store.

You can be beautiful and healthy at the same time.

Tania

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Winter or summer, I always drink my few cups of organic tea per day.  Most of the time, I have about a dozen varieties of tea in the house at any given time.   I love teas and I can appreciate their subtle flavors.

As a careful consumer, I always ask myself ‘ How can I get this cheaper?’

The answers are easy:

1. Purchasing bulk packaged teas.
2. Purchasing direct from manufacturers.

Purchasing bulk saves me, and will save you, a lot of money.

Purchased directly from the manufacturer, teas are fresher and more flavorful than store bought.

The down side to buying bulk packaged teas are:

They are more work and

They are not as convenient as tea bags.

My solution is to get nice accessories, such as fancy cups, bamboo strainers, an iron tea pot and organic cloth or bamboo bags.

Organic bulk teas have wonderful medicinal properties and they taste great. You will also support local economies and enjoy Fresh, Fair-Trade, Earth Friendly, Sustainable Organic Teas.

If you are not up to bulk packaged teas and want to stick to tea bags, you can also purchase tea bags directly from manufacturers.

Let me introduce you to a few companies that I find interesting.

Starwest Botanicals Inc

This company produces and packages organic bulk teas, tea bags, organic herbs, essential oils and more.  What I like about them is the large variety of organic teas they carry, plus their exotic blends of organic teas. They also sell tea accessories.  Price wise they are very reasonable.   Please, see for yourself at Starwest Botanicals Inc.

Art of Tea

This company offers fancy organic teas and blends, fancy tea-ware such as cups, strainers and tea pots. The company offers a large variety of tea bag packages as well as organic bulk teas packaged in beautiful tin cans. Price wise they are very reasonable.  They have a wonderful video about their company. Take a look at Art of Tea .

Yogic Chai

This company only concentrates on organic chai and chai blends. This one is for people who can appreciate real chai and for those who like various spicy blends.  It is not obvious but most of their chais are organic. They also offer beautiful accessories such as infuser teapots and cast iron pots, which are pretty nifty. Yogic chai has a wonderful video on how to brew real yogi chai. My advise, read the ingredients before you choose your blend at Yogic Chai.  Price is good.

Organic India

This company offers a large selection of Organic Tulsi teas. Tulsi, which is also known as holy basil.  Tulsi is known for its medicinal properties. Tulsi has been used for centuries in India and is praised for its power to relieve stress and boost the body’s natural immune system. It tastes mild and sweet, so I give it to my kids during cold and flue season.  I use the original Tulsi tea (plain).  If you like plain or blends such as Sweet Rose, Red Mango, Jasmine or Vanilla, please visit their link at Organic India .

To your health.

Tania

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1. Will it harm my health in the long run, if I decide to spend less and buy conventional food?

For example strawberries and grapes are very heavily sprayed, often much more than other berries, you should not compromise on those. Buy the organic strawberries.   On the other hand, things like onions are usually less sprayed and less fertilized.
2. Does the difference in price over the long term makes a difference?

For example, natural/organic toothpaste is about 5 times the price of the regular type.  When you compare the price, it’s a big shock.  However, ask yourself: How long will it take me to finish this toothpaste? Two months, four months, eight months?  If it takes you 4 to 6 months, then you may feel Ok to pay an extra $1 per month.

Does the organic food taste better and will I enjoy it more?

If the answer is yes then go for it.  I always get compliments that our organic chicken tastes so much better than conventional.  In addition, most of organic fruits and veggies taste better as well.

When you cook the product will it behave differently?

For example, compared to conventional, our organic chicken loses less water during cooking. This will translate into more meat to eat for you.  Therefore, when you compare the weight of cooked chicken to the price per lb, you may feel better about your organic choice.

5. Smaller servings of organic food are often more filling.

Consider that organic poultry, meat and fish have much denser flesh because they have ability to roam around.  As an added bonus to this the flesh of organic animals are less fat.  You may loose some unwanted pounds unexpectedly. Therefore, your can easily reduce your serving size which will also bring your costs down.

6. Flavors in organic food are more satisfying, which also prevents overeating.

The flavors are bright and fresh, not masked by sugar.  Did you ever have the experience by finishing a bowl of chips or dry fruits and say to yourself, ‘Why did   I eat so much? I didn’t even like it.’  That actually happed because you were looking for a particular taste and you didn’t get in the first, second and third piece.

7. Who do I want to support with my dollars?

Do you want to support factory farms thousand miles away or small local family farms?

8. By investing in organics, am I helping to make our planet cleaner?

The answer is yes, most of the time, since organic production is much kinder to the planet than conventional.

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• Start with organic food first,
• Then move on to organic beauty products and
• Ecological household products, clothes could be next
• Start slowly

Organic food

My family likes this simple rule of thumb: first eliminate and replace those things that impact you the most. For example – food; food is directly ingested and fully processed by our bodies.  So, start with your food first.  Same applies to our drinking water.

The easy way to start is to replace one thing at a time.  For example, our family started with, organic vegetables then we moved on to organic poultry and meat next onto organic milk products, and so on.

If we would do it again, with our present level of knowledge, we would do it in reverse.  Because, the residues of growth hormones and antibiotics found in conventional poultry, meat and dairy products are far more harmful than residues of herbicides and pesticides found in vegetables.

Please, don’t think that herbicides and pesticides are good for you it’s just the non-organic poultry, meat and dairy products are far worse.  So, start with organic poultry, meats and dairy- first. Then move onto the vegetables, dry goods and so on.

Organic beauty products and household products

Next, think of creams, soaps and other household products that get absorbed through your skin. After all, the skin is the largest organ, with millions of pores that breathe and carry/communicate good or bad substances into you bloodstream.

And what about your lungs?  Think of all this chemical products in your household that irritate your skin and your eyes and make you cough. You are breathing these chemicals right into your lungs and into your bloodstream.

Start slowly – because starting slowly has several advantages:

Firstly, you have a chance to absorb all the information you need, so you won’t end up confused and frustrated.

Secondly, you will appreciate the differences in quality between organic and conventional products. Organic food is really of superior quality and flavor.

Thirdly, it will make it easier for you to adapt your budget, since organic food usually costs more, but not always.  See  Organic food can be affordable.

Forthly, taking your time to research the benefits of organic food will have a lasting impact on you.  Taking the time to research your sources will have a lasting impact on your wallet.  See  Organic food can be affordable.

And last but not least, please consider the following story.

A few years back we were visiting an organic farm in Laurentian mountains, north of Montreal, Canada.  At the end of our visit, our friend John, who is the owner of this very beautiful organic farm, told us about a new product that he himself was using.  We both, my husband and I were astonished by the price of this product.  As my very wise friend John put it:  – It’s the best health insurance you can buy.

This stuck with me forever: Using organic products is the best health insurance you can buy for you, your family and our beautiful blue planet.

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The new DR. MERCOLA’S TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM ( Click Here! to visit) is a good place to start.  I have been personally following Dr. Mercola for quit a while now and one thing I can say for sure, he knows what he is talking about when it comes to nutrition, health and well being.

In this program Dr. Mercola incorporates the latest medical and scientific research.

From DR. MERCOLA’S TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM ( Click Here! to visit) you will learn life changing, easy to implement and memorable points concerning:

• foods to avoid
• foods to introduce
• vital supplements
• how to reduce  stress
• how to improve  sleep
• toxic items in your house and kitchen
• healthy recipes
• and much, much more

In this guide Dr. Mercola makes use of his many years of experience helping and healing people.  The price of this guide is very affordable compared to the value you get.  This program may literally save you thousands of dollars if you were to learn similar information from a ‘one on one’ clinical consultation . Please get complete information about this package from DR. MERCOLA’S TOTAL HEALTH PROGRAM Click Here! and see for yourself.

2. There are no nasty additives.
Organic food doesn’t contain food additives which can cause health problems. Amongst the additives banned
by the Soil Association are hydrogenated fat, aspartame (artificial sweetener) and monosodium glutamate.

3. No pesticides.
Over 400 chemical pesticides are routinely used in conventional farming and residues are often present in
non-organic food.

4. GM-free.
Genetically modified (GM) crops and ingredients are not allowed under organic standards.

5. Reliance on drugs removed.
There is growing concern about the high use of antibiotics and growth hormones on farm animals and the
possible effects on human health. Soil Association standards prohibit the routine use of these drugs.

6. There are no hidden costs.
Compare this with the millions of dollars that tax payers pay for chemicals to be removed from drinking
water, as a result of the pesticides industrial chemicals and pharmaceuticals which find their way into our
drinking water.

7. High standards.
Certified organic food comes from trusted sources. All organic farms and food companies are inspected at
least once a year and are held to very high standards.  The standards for organic food are laid down

in Canadian law.

8. Care for animals
The humane treatment of animals is taken very seriously under organic standards and
is supported by animal rights organizations such as Compassion in World Farming as well as
the Canadian government.

9. Good for wildlife and the environment.
Organic farming practices are environmentally friendly creating less pollution and dangerous wastes.

10. Top for taste.

Many people prefer organic food because they say it tastes better. Tasting is believing.