[bc_video video_id="6250935664001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"]

[bc_video video_id="6250728428001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] If you’ve spent any amount of time scrolling through Instagram during this pandemic, chances are you’ve come across some very colourful, very trendy cookware! There’s been a surge of direct-to-consumer pots and pans that could have you on a wait list for months!  But are they worth the hype? We tested the two most popular cookware pieces from Instagram to find out. The Always Pan - $195 This gorgeous pan is made with exclusively non-toxic, nonstick ceramic coating. It has no potentially toxic materials like PFOAs, PTFEs, other PFAs, lead, cadmium, toxic metals, or nanoparticles. It's supposed to replace up to eight items in your kitchen, including a sauté pan, skillet, saucepan and steamer! The Pros:

• Lid stays cool enough to touch even when cooking
• Pour spouts to prevent spilling
• big enough for family-sized meals

The Cons

• Handle is long and a bit awkward
• Very expensive for what it does.

The Milo Dutch Oven and Skillet ($195 and $137) This cookware is made from enameled cast iron in either a black matte or a glossy white finish. It claims to be designed for both newbies and pro chefs. The Pros:

• Black look goes with any kitchen
• Feels more expensive than it is
• Large volume
• Durable
• They offer a lifetime warranty

The Cons:

• Can't wash with soap because of the enamel (use vinegar instead!)
• Limited colour palette

The Winner We've got to give the gold to the Milo Dutch Oven and Skillet! We hardly have anything to say about it, and the cheap price and lifetime warranty make it a real steal!

[bc_video video_id="6250741080001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] There’s a wellness trend you may have noticed popping up on your Instagram feed of folks smudging, or “saging,” to cleanse their homes of negative energy. But the appropriation and capitalization of a sacred Indigenous practice more than cancels out any "good vibes" you may get. Today, we want to bring attention to why it’s time to rethink this “trend.”  Ceremonial items, regardless of the culture they belong to, are a sensitive topic. So as a disclaimer, while we got the opinions of many different Indigenous people on this topic, everyone has a different stance. Rituals are very personal, and people are allowed to differ in their interpretation of them. Furthermore, there are over 600 different tribes in Canada and they all have their own teachings, traditions, languages, beliefs, and protocols.  Why Burn Sage? The burning of sage and other traditional medicines is a cross-cultural practice. There are many Indigenous cultures from across the globe, dating back to more than 4,000 years ago, each with their own medical and cultural practices. The ancient Egyptians, for instance, also used sage. Here in North America, however, it has historically been used to cleanse the home. It is believed that burning sage can cleanse the air of harmful bacteria or any negative energies that might be in the space. Different tribes may use different types of sage, like buffalo sage, white sage or mountain sage. It is important to note that not every single Indigenous person smudges or uses sage. There are tribes on the west coast that do not smudge. It’s not a part of their culture. So it is ignorant to assume that all Indigenous people smudge and use sage.  Smudging in North America In 1876, the Canadian government put into law the "Indian Act", a piece of legislation that broadly outlawed Indigenous religious and cultural practices. Among those practices was the use of traditional medicines, and the process of smudging. The act of smudging was outlawed until the 1960's - almost a hundred years. It was a process that had to involve the Human Rights Commission. Settlers Using Smudging If you're a settler and want to burn sage or smudge, it’s important to ask yourself why and how come you are choosing to do this “practice” when even Indigenous people were historically not allowed to. Even today, there are still Indigenous people that don’t have the privilege of accessing and using medicines such as sage. Furthermore, it is often taught in Indigenous culture that sage should never be bought or sold, exploited, mass-picked or used under the influence of substances. "Smudge Kits" Frankly, non-Indigenous people should not be selling sage or “smudge kits.” This is exploitive and it is not their place to be selling these sacred items. The only time that you should spend money on obtaining sage is if you are paying an elder to go and pick the sage for you. That is the only exception. Otherwise, you should pick your own sage and you should pick it with the appropriate intent. It is for yourself and never to sell. Before you pick sage or take anything from the Earth for that matter, you must first give something before you take. A laying of tobacco, for instance, is an appropriate gift before taking sage. Can Non-Indigenous People Smudge? Once again, this depends who you ask, but if you are going to do this, follow the proper protocol. Pick the sage yourself and offer something in return, and make sure you are educated on the purpose, the traditional use, are using it with the right intent, and are respectful of all of these things. It is all about intention. Also - smudging is part of ceremony and it should not be filmed or blasted all over social media. It is not a trend, it is not “cool” and it defeats the purpose if you are just doing it to post on your Instagram story. That is blatant appropriation. Resources on Smudging and Indigenous Education If you want your house cleansed,  the best thing is to ask an Indigenous elder to do this. This is the protocol when someone is trying to cleanse their homes of say, negative energy or spirits. If you live in an urban center, find your local friendship centre and ask to speak to an elder or knowledge keeper. Every friendship center has someone from the appropriate territory to do these things. And, like with the Earth, when asking for something you always offer something. Bring the person you are asking tobacco or a small gift. You must also provide them with your intentions - why do you want your house cleansed? There are plenty of Indigenous resource centers to turn to for guidance. However, it’s important to remember that not every Indigenous person will say yes or believe it’s ok for non-Indigenous people to smudge and cleanse their homes. You must respect that. Different Indigenous peoples are all at different parts in their healing journey. If you find yourself uncomfortable or upset with Indigenous people saying it’s not ok, then you must look inwards towards white fragility. 

[bc_video video_id="6250742051001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] Many of us know the feeling of unwinding at the end of the week with a nice bottle of wine.  Well there are a lot a fun gadgets available to enhance that experience – everything from chilling it to sipping it! Here's everything you’ll need to crack open that bottle and enjoy! Chill It Forget to put that white wine in the fridge before dinner? Fret not, the Cooper Cooler is the latest in wine-chilling technology. It can thoroughly chill a bottle in just 6 minutes. It's also super easy to use. Just add ice and water and let it do it's magic. It's also perfectly capable of chilling delicate wines with the "No Spin" option. Open It Whether you struggle to get that smooth open or are just looking for a classy addition to the home bar, there are options for opening your wine.  The Cuisinart Cordless Wine Opener is a sleek, stainless steel option that can open up to 80 corks in one charge, has one-touch operation, and comes with a 1 year warranty! The Rabbit Automatic Electric Corkscrew is also a great option, and works on all types of corks, including plastics! It automatically ejects the cork from the corkscrew and also comes with a 1 year warranty! Serve It If you drink a lot of wines that are best when they breathe a little, you might benefit from an aeration device like the Aervana Essential, which is simple to use and works instantly. If cold wines are your jam, you can keep your drink in a wine cooler like this award-winning one from Huski. Huski guarantees no ice or condensation with this product, just 6 hours of perfectly chilled wine. For the mobile among you, try an insulated wine bottle. Hydro Flask makes a bottle that is double-insulated to keep flavour in, and the pro-grade stainless steel ensures that you won't get an aftertaste of last week's wine. Preserve It  If you don't finish a bottle on one go, don't let good wine go to waste! Instead use a sealer like this one from Rabbit, which fits any wine bottle, stores flavour for up to 2 weeks, and has a 10 year warranty! Cheers, and we hope this coming weekend is as chill as a cooled wine.

[bc_video video_id="6250552747001" account_id="2226196965001" player_id="rkljM4WDEg"] Embracing diversity, inclusion and acceptance is extremely important for young kids.  And entertainment, especially books, can help them get there. By reading a book about inclusion to your kids, the concept won’t be new to them when they meet or interact new people. Today we're talking about the trend towards inclusive kid's books, and recommending some of the best! Inclusion in the Kid's Books Publishing World It's no secret that BIPOC people are starved for positive representation and content in all media forms. Moms of this group are constantly sharing new content to show to kids. Historically, this has been a tough subject to find content on. In 2020, however, every industry took a moment to try and understand it's audience better. With that come the reflection of how and audience is being impacted by a piece of media. The publishing world is no different, with an unprecedented amount of inclusive stories for kids. There's an influx of Black authors starting to self-publish their own stories (which can be found here and here), and popular websites like Scholastic, Here Wee Read and AALBC are starting to curate lists of inclusive and diverse children's books. Some great books to show your kids:

• Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry

• Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed

• Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal

• Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard

• A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin

• We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell

• The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad

How else can we help our kids do better from a young age? Adding diversity to your kid's life is crucial for ensuring they grow up to be inclusive and accepting. Doing an audit on the media in your house can really help make sure you're setting your kids up for success in this regard. Screen the books and shows that your kids read and watch. Consider whether your kids are friends with a wide range of people. Often, kids end up in a bubble that isn't reflective of society. Finally, find teachable moments in everyday life. If your kid asks what a hijab is, explain it without judgement, and make sure they understand it is part of an important cultural belief. The same goes for any visual indicator of culture, race or gender. Be sure not to judge anyone else's traditions or choices. For more information about diversity in publishing, check out The Open Book Blog.