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8 Easy Ways You Can Celebrate Earth Month

Earth Month is upon us, and to celebrate, we’ve put together 8 easy ways you can be a sustainability superhero all year long.

1. Recycle

Thankfully, recycling is now just a part of daily life here in Canada, and we here at London Drugs are happy to help you divert some of your unwanted items away from the landfill. Curbside recycling programs are of course the most convenient, but we accept some items that your local program might not. You can find a full list here of items that can be brought into London Drugs for recycling.

Packaging is a big part of landfill waste, so as part of our commitment to reduce waste, our Take Back the Pack program will accept packaging from any product we sell in our stores–whether it’s a tube of sunscreen, or a flat-screen TV. From plastic packs to cardboard, plastic wrap, and even Styrofoam, just bring the packaging to Customer Service and we’ll collect it and send it to local facilities for responsible processing. It’s easier on landfills, convenient for our customers and better for the environment.

2. Delete the Disposables

Photo from Jeff Werner on Flickr

Disposable cups and food packaging are one of the biggest environmental problems we have at the moment. Here are some facts:

More than 1.6 billion paper and polystyrene cups are thrown out by Canadians each year
2.5 million cups per day are thrown out in Vancouver alone
114.5 million kilograms of paper cup waste—the equivalent of 22,900 elephants—is dumped into the landfills each year.
10 kg of cups are saved from entering the landfill each year when a 1-cup-a-day coffee drinker uses a reusable mug instead of a disposable cup.

London Drugs carries a wide range of re-useable mugs and water bottles that will fit your lifestyle. Tossing one in your bag or backpack before leaving for work or school could save loads of landfill garbage each year. You can even get a custom photo carafe from our PhotoLab to keep your caffeine and your memories close!

4. Save Water

Canadians are already doing what they can to save our precious water. We turn off the taps while brushing our teeth, we take shorter showers, we don’t water our lawns on restricted watering days. But there is even more we can do to cut down on our water consumption. Did you know that a family of three can save up to 11,000 litres of water or more a year just by installing a high-efficiency showerhead? The Waterpik EcoFlow 3 Mode Handheld Shower Head can not only save thousands of litres of waste water, it can also save you money on your water and energy bills.

5. Reduce Household Energy Use

Photo by Anthony Tran on Unsplash

There are many small ways you can reduce the energy you use in your home that really add up. Here are just a few:

Turn off appliances and lights that you’re not using, or put appliances on an on/off timer.
Install energy-efficient appliances. You can learn more about efficient appliances at Natural Resources Canada.
Use a programmable thermostat that lowers or raises the temperature when you’re not home.
Put on a sweater instead of turning up the heat.
Insulate doors and windows to reduce drafts.
Open windows or turn on a fan for a breeze instead of turning on the air conditioning.
Hang clothes to dry instead of using the dryer.
Use an electric teakettle instead of a stovetop kettle to boil water.
Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs).

6. Shop Locally

Shopping locally is a great way to keep things green. Buying goods produced close to home saves the fossil fuel and emissions from things shipped from far-off countries, and bonus do-goodery – it helps the local economy! London Drugs supports local entrepreneurs and companies by carrying many products manufactured in Western Canada. Check out our Green Deals blog to see a full list of quality Canadian products that we sell.

7. Purchase Fair-Trade Products

If you can’t find what you need from a local company, the next best thing is shop for products labeled as Fair Trade. This designation tells you that these items were produced using sustainable methods and that local people are receiving fair prices for the goods they produce. Many of the coffee brands London Drugs sells carry the Fair Trade designation, including Earth, Ethical Bean, Kicking Horse and Salt Spring.

8. Use Eco-Friendly Products

You can make a difference to the environment easily just by choosing gentler, greener products. Well, how do you know when a product is ‘green’ exactly? It can mean things like it has third-party sustainability certification, reduced or recyclable packaging, reduced synthetic chemicals/toxins, and many other factors. London Drugs is proud to carry hundreds of green products. There is no such thing as a ‘zero-footprint’ product, but we’ve got a full list of all of the eco-friendly products we carry on our GreenDeal.ca website, along with other tips on recycling and sustainability education.

April Book of the Month

Son of a Trickster by Eden Robinson
Everyone knows a guy like Jared: the sixteen-year-old burnout in high school who sells weed cookies and has a scary mom who’s often wasted and wielding some kind of weapon. Jared smokes and drinks too much, and his mom is a mess, and he can’t rely on anyone for consistent love and support, except for his flatulent pit bull, Baby Killer, but now she’s dead.
He’s also a kid with an immense capacity for compassion and an impulse to watch over people more than twice his age, and he tries his best to stabilize his family and keep everything afloat.
But it’s weird the way he sometimes blacks out. And he puzzles over why his maternal grandmother has never liked him, why she says he’s the son of a trickster, that he isn’t human. Also, ravens have begun to speak to him – even when he’s not stoned.
You think you know Jared, but you don’t.

Book of the Month
Every month we will be featuring a new book to be showcased in our Book of the Month. Staff members and friends will be reading the book and posting their reviews. We’d love to hear what you thought of these books as well. Post your comments and let us know. Son of a Trickster is available at London Drugs along with many other great titles and is on sale for the month of April.

7 Signs Of A True Canadian Spring

Hooray! It’s spring. Flowers! Sunshine! Bunnies! At least, that’s what the calendar says. But in Canada, looking out the window probably tells us another story. Here’s what our spring actually looks like. #realtalk

1. Shorts become appropriate. Kind of.

Photo by @chris_donaldson_in_3d on Instagram

The temperature is above 5 degrees, so obviously it’s time for shorts. Luckily, they go great with that toque.

9 DIY Easter Projects to For You and Your Kids

Easter is here, so it’s time to gather the family for some quality time together this holiday weekend. But beyond an Easter egg hunt and a big delicious dinner, what are some good activities to keep little hands occupied and entertained? Don’t worry, we’ve got some ideas for engaging DIY Easter projects.

Photo via Alice and Lois

1. Marbled Easter eggs

When it comes to decorating eggs this year, get fancy! You can make beautiful marbled eggs with just nail polish and water

(and rubber gloves to keep the mess down). Check out the tutorial here and try all kinds of colours!

2. Sidewalk chalk eggs

Spring has sprung, and soon the weather will catch up. Your kids will want to spend all their time outside in the sun. Get them prepared for outdoor fun by making some egg shaped sidewalk chalk! Mix tempera paint and Plaster of Paris, place the mixture inside plastic Easter eggs, wait for it to dry, and voila!

3. Pin the tail on the bunny

It’s not Easter without the Easter Bunny! Update the classic “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” game from your youth to “Pin the Tail on the Bunny”. Print the bunny out on poster-sized paper, cut out some fluffy tails, and you’re good to go. No need to use actual pins, little pieces of tape will do the trick for bunny-to-tail adherence (and save your walls). This is a fun and safe way for kids to interact with rabbits! Rather than getting them a real bunny for a pet, which is a surprising amount of work, play with pretend bunnies instead.

Photo via Sugar and Charm

4. Bunny hand puppets

If your kids are really bunny-crazy, make some felt bunny hand puppets for them to play with year round. The bright colours and soft fabric make these just as fun to put together as they are to play with. They’ve got such great little faces!

5. Easter egg scavenger hunt

If you want to perhaps reduce the amount of chocolate your kids eat, as well as make the traditional Easter egg hunt a bit more exciting, try an Easter egg scavenger hunt! Fill plastic Easter eggs with clues that will lead to the next egg, and the next, until the adventurers eventually find the final egg and a special prize.

Photo via Tiny Rotten Peanuts

6. String Easter eggs

This one is a bit messy, but that’s why your kids will love it. Put those sticky fingers to good use! Blow up some small balloons and wrap them in coloured string or embroidery floss soaked in a liquid glue solution. After they dry, pop the balloons and you’re left with these cool string eggs!

7. Toilet roll bunnies

These little bunnies turn out so cute, you’ll hardly believe they were made from repurposed toilet paper rolls! Cover them in fabric or paint, add some ears, whiskers, and a tail — you’ve got a bunny! This project is really easy for kids for put their own spin on.

Photo via Martha Stewart

8. Envelope bunnies

Say “Hoppy Easter” with these adorable envelope bunnies. With markers, construction paper, and pompoms kids can create rabbits out of envelopes, and then fill those envelope bunnies with a card and treats!

9. Mini wooden Easter baskets

This one is a bit more fiddly and time consuming, but it’ll keep your kids engaged and they’ll end up with a fantastic Easter basket to hold some chocolate eggs. All you need is paper cups, popsicle sticks, glue, and paint. If you treat them carefully, these baskets can be kept for future years and your kids can remember how much fun they were to make!

Remember, all of these suggestions should be family activities. Do the crafts with them, and don’t expect picture perfect results. The fun is in trying new things and learning together! Happy Easter!

10 Easter Dishes For Every Kind of Tradition

From low-key brunches to big, sumptuous dinners, Easter meals offer a variety of opportunities to celebrate and relax with your loved ones. Whether you’re hosting a feast or making a dish to contribute, you won’t want to plan your spread without these recipes.

1. Ham and Artichoke Quiche with Mustard-Rye Glaze

Enjoy all of the succulent flavours of an Easter feast with this savoury quiche, perfect for brunch. Chopped artichoke hearts, gruyere cheese, and a nutty crust combine to make what’s sure to become a family favourite.

[Get the recipe from Crumb.]

2. Leg of Lamb with Stuffed Artichokes, Spinach, and Red Pepper

Searching for a triumphant main dish for your dinner? Look no further. This leg of lamb is stuffed with a gorgeous assortment of veggies, and is bound to impress and delight everyone at your table.

[Get the recipe from Canadian Living.]

3. Easter Egg Bread

What’s Easter without some thematically adorable treats? This Easter Egg bread is not only seasonally appropriate, but is bread-making-beginner-friendly.

[Get the recipe from Simple Bites.]

4. Rosemary Goat Cheese Scalloped Potatoes

What’s more reminiscent of spring than fresh herbs? This scalloped potato dish is covered in a rich and creamy sauce, and topped with fresh rosemary. It’s the perfect accompaniment for any Easter dinner.

[Get the recipe from the Little Potato Company.]

5. English Pea Salad Recipe

Even if you’re not a huge fan of peas, this salad is dressed up with so much flavour that you’ll never notice you’re eating your greens. Prepare it the day before to save time and let the veggies marinate in the dressing.

[Get the recipe from Country Living.]

6. Sour Cream and Bacon Deviled Eggs

No Easter spread can be considered complete without a tasty egg dish. These aren’t your standard deviled eggs, either. A rich sour cream and bacon filling will make this a fast favourite.

[Get the recipe from The Food Network.]

7. Roasted Carrots with Carrot-Top Pesto

Roasted carrots are the perfect side dish for any Easter feast. If you love buying them with the tops still on but don’t have a resident pet bunny to eat them for you, you can turn them into a tangy pesto with this simple recipe.

[Get the recipe from Vega.]

8. Lemon Roasted Chicken Thighs with Dilled Orzo

If you don’t feel like having a big to-do so that you can enjoy more time relaxing with your family, this is the perfect dinner recipe. You need only eight ingredients, fresh herbs for garnish, and you’re set!

[Get the recipe from Family Bites.]

9. Baked Ham With Orange & Brown Sugar Glaze

This succulent ham recipe includes a how-to to make your own simple (yet so delicious) glaze out of aromatic cloves and citrus flavours. If you’re planning on cooking a ham for your Easter dinner, you’ll absolutely want to give this a try.

[Get the recipe from Cookin’ Canuck.]

10. Put an Egg on it: Easy Easter Cake

This decadently adorable dessert will put the Easter bunny to shame. If dessert is your domain, this is for you (and it will look great on your Pinterest board, too!).

[Get the recipe at Coco Cake Land.]

Did we miss your favourite Easter recipe? Post it in the comments below!

15+ Easy, Cheap and Fun Indoor Activities for Kids

With the cold weather upon us, we know that extended indoor time can be a challenge. So here’s 15 ideas for entertaining the little ones within your four walls.We offer these ideas for entertaining the little ones within your four walls.

Giant Box Art

indoor activities - Cardboard Box drawing

berrysweetbaby.blogspot.ca

Have a big cardboard box taking up space in the house? Before you toss it into the recycling bin, take a handful of crayons or markers and drop them inside, add one toddler (or two if you have another on hand) and watch it come to life. We all know toddlers love to write on walls, and these walls are fair game. Older kids can join in the fun too with more elaborate creations on the outside–pirate ship, princess castle, space shuttle, airplane–the possibilities are endless! Speaking of endless, there are loads of fun and simple activities to do with cardboard boxes.

Escape the Volcano

toddlerapproved.com

This fantastic game is inspired by The Floor Is Lava, but it’s a little more involved. The planning is worth it, though, because it gets your kids moving and thinking with colour matching, exercise, riddles, and more.

Sponge Finger Painting

247moms.com

If your kids love finger painting but you hate the mess, keep it under control with sponges. Makeup sponges work great for keeping the paint in one place, and clean up is easy if you keep them on a plate or plastic tray.

Baking

Baking is a great rainy-day activity for kids of any age. Not only do they get yummy treats at the end, but they learn a little about chemistry and where their food actually comes from. No worries if you’re not an expert baker yourself – try these super-simple recipes from Delish.com that anyone can master. Don’t forget to stock up on baking tools and supplies!

Yoga

cosmickids.com

Yes, your little ones can do yoga! There are lots of great DVDs to help your toddlers and kids get started with yoga, but our favourite videos are from Cosmic Kids. In each free YouTube video, likeable host Jamie walks little yogis through a new adventure, including favourites like Moana, Star Wars, Frozen, and other fun stories, while learning the basics of flexibility, balance, strength, and mindfulness. Move the coffee table, grab your mat, and get ready for some fun. Bonus–you can sneak in your own workout right next to the kids!

Indoor Picnic

gladlydo.com

If grilled cheese and baby carrots are getting a bit boring, inject some fun into lunch and have an indoor picnic! Pack portable containers into a basket, clear some space, put down a blanket or tablecloth, and voilà! For extra fun, add some “outdoor” details like homemade grass, flowers, trees (aka tall potted plants), etc. Don’t forget to invite the stuffed animals! You can also continue the fun into the night with an indoor campout. Especially fun for a sleep over!

Spy Laser Obstacle Course

parentmap.com

A ball of yarn or string is all you need for this secret mission. Find a narrow passageway like a hallway or stair case, and wrap the string at different angles back and forth at kid-height (painter’s tape works well too, if you’ve only got walls to deal with). Little kids will have a blast trying to climb through the configuration, and you can take the challenge up a notch for older kids with spy backstories, timed races, secret maps, special treasure missions, or a spy movie shoot. More ideas and instructions at mykidsadventures.com.

Make Your Own Book

If you’ve read the 478th book to your kids, why not get them to make their own books? There are many tutorials online about homemade book projects, but we found a great place to start with this simple one, which is good for beginner crafters, or for a sweet gift for someone. All you’ll need is a few sheets of paper, scissors, and crayons or markers. You could also add magazine cut-outs to practice pre-schooler scissor skills.

Cotton Swab Blow Darts

thatswhatchesaid.net

Don’t be alarmed by the name! This game is as safe as it gets. For this one, you’ll only need some cotton swabs, bowls or small bins (even old yogurt containers would work!), number stickers or tape, and some drinking straws. You’ll foster some healthy competition with everyone in the family with this lively game. Full instructions at thatswhatchesaid.net.

Sticky Spider Web

whatmomslove.com

Painter’s tape, light, throw-able objects, and a doorway is all you need for this active game. Have fun looking for things around the house that will stick in the web, like balled up newspaper, balloons, small toys, etc, or make it a competition by adding points or a timer.

Masking Tape Race Track

lejardindejuliette.blogspot.ca

A no-brainer if you’ve got a tub full of toy cars or trains. Make it colourful and fancy with washi tape like the one above, but regular old painter’s tape works well too (and is just as fun on carpet and furniture!). You can keep it contained in the kids’ room, or take it all over the house for an epic race. You can even add a souped-up garage or train station, like this one:

Want more ideas for fun and learning with just a roll of tape? Check out more ideas at Hands On As We Grow.

Minute to Win It

happinessishomemade.net

If you’ve got a house full of kids, Minute to Win It games are a surefire hit. Bring the popular game show into your living room with rip-roaring races like “Junk in the Trunk,” “Cookie Face,” or “Pong Tac Toe.” The entire family, neighbours, cousins and the mail carrier are all going to want to join in this one. More ideas for MTWI games at happinessishomemade.net.

Sewing Station

kleas.typepad.com

This indoor activity is perfect for 4-6 year olds to practice fine motor skills. You will need to pick up a few supplies, but it’s a creative and colourful project that your pre-schooler can be proud of. Full instructions at kleas.typepad.com.

I’m Bored Jar

blog.vickybarone.com

If you’ve reached your creativity limit, an I’m Bored Jar will be your best friend. Simply put, it’s a container filled with things for kids to do. Some people fill it with fun stuff, others mix in chores kids can help with around the house. You can get creative with the design using tokens, popsicle sticks or laminated cards, if that’s your cup of tea, or you can just write the activities on slips of paper and put them in a jar. Every time you hear a small person in your house utter the phrase “Mooooooom/Daaaaaad, I’m BOOOORED!”, you can bring them the jar and let it do its work. More ideas for jar design and activities at wellnessmama.com.

What’s your favourite activity for beating kids’ cabin fever? Let us know in the comments!

On the Hunt for Easter Treats? Egg-citing Gift Ideas for the Entire Family

Everybody loves getting something sweet Easter morning, but there’s nothing wrong with shaking it up every now and then, especially when the majority of us are still working through that Valentine’s Day bulk.

Personalized Mugs

With 47 different customizable Easter mug templates, you’ll have no problem finding the perfect breakfast companion for everyone at the ‘big kids’ table.

Spend some quality time with the tots! Have little ones create their own handprint art, which can be easily digitized so you can add it to an Easter-themed mug design. You can digitize your artwork using an at-home scanner, or visit your local London Drugs Photolab in-store to use our self-serve scanner, or have an LDExpert scan it for you.

April long weekend is best spent with the family, April 1^st – get personal.

Easter Cards

For the family unable to make it – or the sentimental aunt, cousin or grandparent – customize an Easter-themed greeting card! Choose your favorite vacation photo, a dance recital snapshot, or the hockey goal candid – tell a story, share some news, or just send a ‘Happy Easter!’ greeting.

There are over 30 different templates to choose from, and our LDExperts are always available to help you through, step by step, at every London Drugs Photolab.

But what is Easter without eating an entire Lindt bunny before breakfast? We’re all kids at heart – can anyone say no to the kind eyes of the marshmallow Peep, or turn down cracking open that mysterious orange plastic at the center of every Kinder Surprise egg? So why not fill that personalized mug with Easter goodies, as an added treat!