The year was 2006. Arielle was only 17 when fate played its hand. She was young, spirited and full of energy. As an accomplished cross-country runner and like many dedicated athletes, Arielle experienced sore muscles after exercise. An over the counter medicine seemed like a good solution and she applied it regularly all over her legs. In addition, she used adhesive pads which, like her over the counter cream, also carried the anti-inflammatory drug, methyl salicylate. Had Arielle known the proper application, she would still be running. Instead of applying it sparingly and for no more…

Khaki green is an earth colour, the camouflage of the warrior. Our tooth cleanser is dressed for battle. Not the usual toothpaste bright green gel, but a dull, khaki green. Maybe not the most common colour for a tooth paste, we agree. But once you understand the goal and master the usage, the khaki takes on a new meaning. We don’t actually call it toothpaste either. We call it Tooth Cleanser, mainly because we did not want you to compare it to the standard blinding whites or neon greens or electric blues out there. When we first made the cleanser years ago, we reminded you to check…

Back in the peak of the Black Death (1348-1350) when everyone was dying left right and centre, a quartet of thieves were captured and threatened with being burned alive for their crimes against the plaque victims. Let’s ask the thieves how they stayed safe. “Why,” implored the judge, “can you go about committing such horrific theft crimes against the ill and the dead and yet remain immune to this horrible plague? Tell me your secret and be spared the fire of death.”  The story goes that the four thieves, who were previously spice and perfume merchants, had lost their jobs due to the…

The two young teens closed their menus having settled on their breakfast options.   “What can I get for you this morning?” the waitress asked, pen poised. Felix looked up and grinned. “Well, I’m going to have the 3-egg option, sunny, brown toast and jam, orange juice and coffee, please.  And I think my buddy is going for the Red Dye #40. “ Both the waitress and Oscar appeared confused. Oscar shrugged and said, “Um, I ate already so I’ll just have the Kellogg’s corn flakes, but with the strawberry flavoured milk. And throw in the Yoplait yogurt on the side, please…

Some TV ads are so irritating you just have to grab the remote and FF, skip, silence, or smash.  ‘Anti-Aging’ cream ads fall into that category for me and once viewed I do not wish to see it again. I do not believe most of what I hear and I feel sorry for those who spend money on false assurances, sometimes at a risk to our health. We buy. We try. What about our crushed morale, when success was not around the corner. Lift the crow’s feetTighten the layersShrink the bagsLighten the dark circles Promises. Promises. Promises to achieve the truly perfect solution to aging? A constant…

Alarm awake another dayPut the body wash in playFocus, stretch to morning cleanseSquish the pump. Squirt away  Bubble lather aims to cleanGentle soothing grapefruit sheenPromising a glow skin shineIs danger lurking? Quite unseen? Ready now to face the day!Although quite polluted.Sad to say Our skin often feels it could use a little help. This typical morning cleansing ritual described above would not occur if you truly knew what you were doing. Body washes are in. They smell great. Affordable. Functional. What more should one ask for? How about asking for a cleanser that does not contain…

When you whisper ‘marula’ in an elephant’s ear, watch him smile. It is true that they do love to eat the fruit of the marula tree, but does it really make them ‘tipsy’ as legend says?  Elephants that consume fermented marula fruit from the ground sometimes appear drunk. Perhaps the fruit does ferment in the stomach, turning to alcohol.  The elephant has always been admired. Aristotle once said ‘The elephant surpasses all others in wit and mind’. The elephant can identify languages, read our body talk, mourn their dead, mimic our voices. They can use tools to achieve a goal…

The other evening, I asked my husband to humour me in mime. Intrigued to be on stage, he paused the TV news.  “Ok. What’s up?” he asked. “You are entering a store and are greeted by the sanitizing dispenser. What do you do?” He mimes pressing the pump, receiving the imaginary glop onto the palm of one hand, and then proceeds the cleansing hand dance, vigorously rubbing the palms together, round and round, over and up and down. He then sits back and grins with satisfaction, “I’m sanitized.” I smiled. " An almost perfect demo, but you forgot the most important parts. Your fingertips…