Lunapads Blog

Can you tell us about you and what brought you to start Girlvana Yoga.
I wanted to inspire the next generation of women. I was really seeing the pressure teens are under to look, act and be a certain way. I have experienced how powerful yoga has been in my life as at catalyst to becoming the most authentic version of myself. I thought that the teachings of yoga needed to be translated to younger girls. I had tumultuous teen years growing up as a competitive dancer struggling with body image, self-esteem and self worth. I wanted to share my story and empower these girls.

Girlvana Yoga is an interesting name, how did you come up with it?
It came to me in the middle of the night. I couldn’t sleep, so I hopped on my computer and started brainstorming the blend of Sanskrit words with ‘girl’ and ‘teen.’ Girlvana comes from the root word Nirvana that means free from suffering or a way out. I want to give girls just that- a way out of suffering.

What is Girlvana all about?
It is about self-expression and celebrating your uniqueness. Yoga is a lifestyle. The physical postures are just one element. I want girls to be themselves and yoga is one way to really explore who you are on a deeper level. Yoga is everything from the way you treat your mother, to the food you put in your body, to the way you perceive the world.

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A week ago Suzanne and I presented our first TED talk as part of the Berlin-based TEDxChange event that was also held at satellite locations in 193 cities. TEDxChange was convened by Melinda Gates of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (the event’s strategic partner), the theme was “The Big Picture”, with a stated goal of addressing global issues. Here in Vancouver the banner was flown by TEDxKids@BC, a dynamic, youth-focused TEDx chapter.

What’s not to love about TED talks? Some of our office faves include Simon Sinek’s Start with Why, Brene Brown’s The Power of Vulnerability and Leymah Gwobee’s Unlock the intelligence, passion, greatness of girls. What knocked our socks off about the @BCKids event was that a bunch of teenagers and young adults could be as poised and confident in telling their stories as you would expect from a seasoned TED speaker. Not to mention the gravity of issues and experiences that they brought to light: check out these examples.

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What’s so great about cloth? Here’s what Amy at AppleCheeks has to say!

Are cloth diapers really better than throwaways? They sure are! In case you’re still holding onto old stats sputtered out by Proctor and Gamble a million years ago, here’s the skinny on your diapering options:

No matter how you spin it, cloth diapers is the better option. Did you know that tens of millions of so-called disposable diapers are thrown away EVERY DAY in North America? And, hey, in case you wonder why we call those Pooh inspired plastic bombshells “throwaways”, it is because the word disposable is, in fact, a misnomer.

We may “throw it away” but it does not magically get disposed of.  It sits in our tidy bins, finds its way to the larger garbage bin that some hardworking person has the good fortune to dump into a huge, gas-guzzling, super-compacting truck where said item journeys to a humungous landfill to sit for anywhere from a few decades to, much more commonly, a few centuries.

Besides, the modern cloth diaper is super cute on your Super Cute One’s tush. If you aren’t sure, check out AppleCheeks.com to see some pretty adorable babies in fabulous, modern cloth diapers. Happy diapering!

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Everywhere I go, I’m looking for products Lunapads fans might like. Having been lucky enough to go to Expo West, I was in the mecca of Natural Health Products. Amongst an overwhelming sea of products and pitches, I located 10 ideas that I thought were really super kewl and special!

What first attracted me to the Thermal-Aid booth was their adorable little bears. A hot or cold pack sweetie that I knew kids would love, including older kids like me who love cuteness. But these products aren’t just for the little ones! There are Thermal-Aid Natural Heating Pads available in several sizes for grown-ups, too.

Lunapads has been on a quest to find a heat pack that is natural, free of BPA, and contains no other nasty chemicals. Thermal-Aid has the workhorse of natural heating pad options. Big deal, you say. Well, yes, this one really is a big deal! Ever tried rice, barley or other natural versions? Read this report for more details, but we all know moisture is a great place for mold to grow.

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This was my very first Expo West and the first time I was not in a booth at an industry trade show. I must say I enjoy the freedom of being on the buying side at a show, but my feet hurt more as I did many more miles of walking! This show, as it turns out, is huge.  Suzanne and I focused on the health and beauty area, but dabbled in the new products area too. We located some real gems! These are just a few of them; there will be more in future blogs!

BRÖÖ Craft Beer Body & Haircare
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BRÖÖ your do! Suzanne, Morgan and Lisa all tried and really liked their Citrus Pale Ale shampoo and conditioner samples. BRÖÖ’s eye-catching display included beer brewing, a picnic table and the cutest 6 pack of Shampoo you ever did see! Looking for a natural fun hair product that works? This is the brand to get! Here is their story.

Back to the Roots
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I love their “know your food” mentality, and what a great gift item! Grow your own mushroom kits and refills. I was looking for these last Christmas as it was the perfect gift for my hard-to-buy-for parents, but they had sold out everywhere! This company also is spreading the word about sustainability regarding our food. Know your food sources and grow your own is a really important message to be sharing. Thanks, Back to the Roots!

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This past couple months has been like a blast from the past 1999 reunion. I hooked up with Rene of Karma Suds who I used to do craft shows with and while volunteering for Shanti Uganda this Christmas season I also met up again with Elizabeth MacLeod. At those same rounds of Craft shows I did with Rene in 1999- 2000, I fell in love with Wild Woman Stones and Elizabeth. Wild Woman Elizabeth has been busy over the past decade adding to her lines and her Wild Woman stones have grown into a beautiful deck of cards and companion book Wild Woman Mystery Cards.

As described by Elizabeth and Sark
The Wild Woman Mystery Cards created by Elizabeth MacLeod come complete with 53 beautifully illustrated cards and 132-page book explaining each of the symbols in depth. They show the possibilities in our lives; inviting us to explore how we want to show ourselves individually, as a community, and as a world of women. They can be used as a daily reminder, for meditation, in healing circles and ceremonies, and much much more! Use the cards alone, with a partner, or in a group.

“Wild Woman Mystery Cards are a wonderful ride of love. They are a best friend and wise companion carrying us on our journey while holding our precious hands. A beacon of light in our beautiful and mysterious world, Elizabeth treasures the heart and soul of every Succulent Wild Woman” SARK, best-selling author and artist (I am also a HUGE SARK fan she has inspired me in so many ways. I get all bubbly and speechless when I think about her!)

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If you were anything like me in 7th grade, you probably owned about 12 different flavours of cheapo Lipsmacker brand lip balm. For me it was an obsession. There were dozens to collect; all candy coloured, overly glossy, scented and flavoured to high-heaven. They didn’t really do much for chapped lips and they melted all over the place if they got too warm. I remember leaving my favourite Dr. Pepper Lipsmacker on the dash of my moms car on a hot day and when I went to use it, I just about poured it all over myself, totally bogus! Never mind that they contain ingredients of questionable safety like Mineral Oil and petroleum based waxes.

I grew out of the Lipsmacker obsession pretty quickly, but my search for the perfect lip balm continued. If I lined them all up, I would probably find that I still own about 12 different tubes of the stuff at any given time, but there are only 1 or 2 that I ever really want to use. A privileged few that get transferred from back-pocket to bag to jacket until I’ve scraped the last out of the bottom of the tube.

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Suzanne and I are just back from an epic journey to Uganda. Among many high points while there was a visit to AFRIpads, a washable padmaking venture started in 2009 by Sophia Klumpp and Paul Grindvals, then recently graduated university students eager to make a difference in the developing world. The story of how this all came to pass has a magical quality to it, in the way that truth can so often be stranger than fiction.

Try this for a story: Carrie-Jane Williams, a young Canadian woman, traveled to Uganda in 2008 as part of a group of students from the University of British Columbia researching education for girls in the area. Being a Lunapads customer and aware of the lack of sanitary products for girls, she fundraised and purchased some Pads4Girls Kits to bring with her. On her last day of her trip, she met Paul and Sophia and showed them the products.

Intrigued and inspired, they contacted us to see whether we were OK with them essentially copying the Lunapads design and business idea. We said yes, little imagining that 4 years later we would be meeting them in person, touring their factory and exploring ways to support one another’s business growth.

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Over a decade ago when I worked with gem stones and made jewellery, I partnered up with a soap-maker and we hit the local craft shows together. I recently met up with my friend Rene who has continued making soap to this day, her business is called Karma Suds. Not only is Rene a fantastic soap maker she also created the Soap Making School to share her knowledge of herbs, essential oils and how to concoct the most amazing organic natural products ever.

Rene also combines her talent at making soap with her training as a Reiki practitioner. I have a specialty with gem stones back in our craft show days we created intention soap together. This is more than just soap, inside each specially handcrafted bar of Intention Soap you will find your own personal Intention Stone. Each time you use your soap, you will move closer to meeting your stone. The stone has been cleansed and empowered by a Reiki Master to enhance and focus the energies that are naturally part of your Intention Stone. Each herb and essential oil that has been added to the soap has a specific purpose. Once you meet your stone, it will be charged with your own energies and you can carry it with you.

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We have teamed up with Hot Mama Gowns to offer you a double-giveaway! Enter below for your chance to win your very own Hot Mama Gown and/or 1 of 3 Lunapads Sampler Packs. Log in with your Facebook account, or enter using your name and email address. Contest ends first thing Friday, December 30th at 12:01am EST.

Hi everyone, Lisa here! I had the pleasure to work with Deidrea Haysel of Hot Mama Gowns recently, and thought some of you might be interested to learn more about this firecracker entrepreneur and her innovative organic cotton maternity gowns. What better way to spread the love than to host a joint giveaway!

Here’s some information about Deidrea and why she started Hot Mama Gowns, plus 2 (count ‘em, 2!) giveaways that you can enter below. Read on or Visit our Facebook Page for more info!

Hey!  My name is Deidrea and I am the self-proclaimed “Hot Mama” behind Hot Mama Gowns.

The idea for Hot Mama Gowns was born at the same time our daughter was born in May of 2006. After having an awesome pregnancy and a pretty swift, uncomplicated delivery; I had the clarity to really evaluate my surroundings. Namely the itchy, chemical smelling, faded hospital gown I was wearing.

The standard hospital gown was far from stylish, comfortable, or functional. The gown got in the way of skin to skin contact and breastfeeding, two things that were very important to me. I couldn’t wait to change into something that was comfy and allowed me to bond with my baby girl. Pajamas weren’t really an option right after delivery, so I started to brainstorm about the ideal maternity gown that would make me feel good (and look good).

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