Blog

It's easy to be green these days.

Composting kitchen scraps is hardly the newest way to lighten our loads on Mother Earth, especially with more communities offering curbside compost services. Our LUSH Kitchens and head offices all compost, and our shops do so whenever possible as well. There's always more we can do, though.

Composting isn't difficult provided there is a designated spot, and a system to it. It's a natural process, so however diligent or casual the system, compost will happen. (We suggest a more diligent system for communal spots like the office though!) A helpful resource for all kinds of compost questions is Barbara Pleasant's article "Compost Made Easy" on Mother Earth News; this is a must-read if you are looking for good dirt on the topic.

On the Internet one day, I stumbled upon another article about "compost smoothies" from a blog called Maoomba. Hang on a tick, I thought - what have my plants been missing all these years? And how easy would this be in an office lunch room? While there's still a compost heap in the yard, Maoomba's article about compost smoothies-or direct composting, or what some even call blender composting, has helped tighten the loop on my kitchen garden by using fresh scraps immediately. (I like to think of the activity of the fresh nutrients doing for my plants what a Fresh Face Mask does for my skin.) 

Read More...

For someone who loves food and travel as much as I do…let it be known that traveling to new places isn’t always easy when you are vegetarian.

While most restaurants these days have vegetable dishes or some carb-heavy option to indulge in, it’s more of a problem for me mid-travel: at rest stops, airports, train stations and so on. Finding a veg-friendly, healthy option can be difficult! It was when I started traveling (years ago!) with my super healthy grandma that I received some recommendations that I still use. Tips to ensure you exercise on the road and healthy snacks to bring along, if you, like me, tend to get hangry (hungry + angry) without a proper meal. Keep in mind I’m not a nutritionist or fitness expert, this advice simply works for me and I’m always sharing it with my trusty travel companions.

Portable meals:

Breakfast: Oatmeal packets (the less sugar, the better) are super easy to keep in your purse; simply add hot water on the plane or from any food court for a quick, filling start to your day! Yogurt and a baggie of granola or nuts is another easy one…yogurt will keep for a few hours in your carry-on so grab a spoon and enjoy! Another favorite is a small pack of peanut butter or almond butter, eaten with an apple, put in oatmeal, spread on low fat crackers or a piece of wheat bread. Boom, breakfast in a pinch!

Read More...

And yes, technically it's still Spring for another month. And we know that our US friends have to wait another week for a 3-day weekend...

But those are just minor details! What's more important is that the warm weather and sunshine are finally upon us. The days are long and languid. Gone are the memories of cold, rain, sleet, and snow. Even if it was only last week.

We're dreaming of bicycle rides, the Farmer's Market, picnics in the park, lazy naps in the sunshine, BBQ's, gardening, chalk drawings on the sidewalk, watermelon and popsicles - every fun-filled, carefree activity we can think of to pack into a long weekend.

After months of feeling cooped up inside it's time to get outside and enjoy green spaces, friends, family, and the neighborhoods we live in. Now 3 long days are before you. Are you staying in town, or heading out to a lake or seaside locale? Or are you packing your hiking boots and getting ready to scale a mountain? Wherever you go, or whatever adventures you get up to - enjoy every minute! And please don't forget to protect your skin with sunscreen and a hat!

Read More...

We're not ashamed to say it - we get around.

We love it when you send us pictures of your trips when you spot LUSH shops in a new city, and the shots of your bags packed with our products safely included. Now that the warm weather is here, our thoughts naturally turn to vacations and time off to enjoy the season. Hopping on planes, trains, and automobiles. Travel by pedal, foot, and board. No matter where you're going this summer - to the lake for a weekend, a tour of a land afar, or backcountry to pitch a tent, let us be your trusty travel companion. Are you having a stay-cation in your city instead? Let's hang out.

Solid, naked products like shampoo bars, body butters, and toothy tabs are perfect for packing and you never have to worry about spillage, (or meeting size restrictions). Plus, shampoo bars and body butters can do double-duty. You can use a shampoo bar for your hair, as a body wash, and even as laundry soap in a pinch. Get scrubbed up and moisturize all in one handful with your favorite butter in a bar.

Packing for the plane? You can re-use your empty black ...

Read More...

LUSH is a global business, and our North American branch of the family tree covers Honolulu to Halifax, and Prince George to Miami.

There is a lot of ground to cover - and just as much water! Many LUSH professionals travel widely and for as many various reasons as you might imagine…and then some. As well, LUSH events might call for any number of costumes, or at least wigs and other gag finery not to mention props, ingredients, and random materials; as a LUSH Trainer for over 7 years, I had all sorts of unusual, precious or just downright outrageous items packed in (and out- by security-) of my suitcases.

Good packing became an occupational requirement for me. Years of planning my self-expression into carry-on-sized collections for particular events have honed a few tried-and-true favorite packing tips. I use them for trips ranging from overnight to over-the-globe, and time and again they come in handy. Feel free to add yours in the comments below.

Know Thyself, And Thy Destination

Where are you going and what do you need while you’re there? Sounds simple enough, but if you’ve ever lugged clunky shoes around you never wore while away, a moment’s reflection now can save additional baggage fees later. This doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does require understanding your bare essentials for personal style, as well as possessing a clue about where you are going. The first one can take years to get right, but thankfully for the second one at least, there’s an app for that.

Let&r...