September starts the season for me, we kick it off with my daughter Juliette's birthday, then my wedding anniversary, my parents wedding anniversary onto Halloween, my Mother-in-Law's birthday then bam, Thanksgiving. My all time favorite holiday! It's about family, being cozy and most of all FOOD. It's not about consumerism, unless you count stuffing your face full of delicious that is.
Thanksgiving, while has a very different history than we are lead to believe (it wasn't all happy faces around a feast) it is taken on a very special meaning to many families in this country. Mine included. It is a time to come together, enjoy each other, eat delicious (and I mean delicious) food!
What better time of year to continue or start new eco-traditions. There are many ways to accomplish a green Thanksgiving. Here are some ways you can incorporate them into your family!
*Buy as many organic ingredients as possible, including your pantry staples (sugar & flour for example), vegetables, fruits, drinks (eco wine and small batch natural sodas like GUS!) and the bird itself
*Support local farmers by shopping at your local farmer's market, and if that's no possible ask at the grocery store what produce is locally grown, some even have them labeled
*Be creative in your decor, use items from nature, even better plants instead of cut flowers!
*If you don't already (and you really should be) use cloth napkins at Thanksgiving, they lend an elegance and personality to the table
*Make everything you can from scratch, you control the ingredients and there's less processing (less or no preservatives!)
*Eat ALL of the leftovers
*Invite friends over, share the bounty!
*If you can compost all scraps of food at the end of the night
*Skip the turkey! Much less of a headache! Cheaper too! There's so much good stuff to eat (I dare not call anything a "side"!)
*ENJOY eating in, saving gas and being with family!
Check out my favorite mouth watering foodie recipe blog Smitten Kitchen for lots of great recipes for your Thanksgiving including the delicious pictured Apple Pie!
It's that time again, time to bust out the wallet and scour the city for the perfect gifts. It's a perfect time to stay earth friendly and pick up items that dazzle both environmentally and in look. To start of the season I've found the most beautiful woven baskets, I would love to store just about anything in these African baskets. Traditionally these baskets are made from local grasses, but are often now made with strips of recycled plastic. Love that!
Baskets come in a varity of sizes and colors, start your collection now, click here!
Preserve's #5 collection project has reached an amazing goal, 50 tons (that's a whopping 100,000 pounds)! That's a whole lotta plastic containers that would have otherwise been doomed to the landfill. I am happy to have contributed over the past few years with all of our #5's. We drop them off every few months at Whole Foods. It's as simple as that.
Click here for more information and some amazing offers from Preserve's partners, lovely.
Here's a few links from my weekend browsing history...enjoy!
A delicious recipe from Smitten Kitchen for Sweet Potato with Pecans and Goat Cheese. Obviously score organic ingredients and you've got yourself a delicious and eco treat!
A great article from New York Magazine spotlighting none other than vegetables!! Love the title, Vegetables are the New Meat. A must read.
Instead of chowing down on Turkey this Thanksgiving (I mean come on it's the sides we really want anyway, and speaking of let's stop calling them "the sides" they deserve more than that!) adopt one through Farm Sanctuary! Click here for details on the Adopt-A-Turkey Project (and no, you won't have a turkey running around your house, teehee)
The House bans 'Crush Videos', ummm what took them so long. And for those who don't know this is a video catering to the sexual fantasy of a woman's heel crushing a small animal, need I say more? Click here for the article on Huffington Post
OMG moment here about BPA & Hand Sanitizers, read on...
Mrs.Meyer's holiday gift sets under $25! Done and done.
The latest from Fig&Sage blog, because, well, they're posts are always amazing! Plus they've got a ton of discount codes for some great eco-finds!
Uggggg, being the go to eco-gal is sometimes hard, I have spent my whole life caring about the planet (I remember going to my first Earth Day Festival with my best friend around age 8) and I still do but sometimes it's hard and I find myself faltering from my own standards.
There are certain things I do daily that are a given, like trying to always avoid plastic grocery bags and using our reusable cloth napkins, but sometimes I find myself lamenting at how long going the eco way will take, and then the guilt sets in and then I feel horrible. Take our #5 recyclables for example, we separate them from our other recyclable plastics because NYC does not accept them (and contrary to popular belief, if you hide them in with the other bottles and jugs, they will be thrown into landfills!) and tote them to our local Whole Foods for proper recycling. Lately I haven't had the energy to wash them out and store them, and while it's been tempting to simply toss I haven't (I am redeemed!). I usually leave them for when my husband is doing the dishes, shhhhh!
My husband and I do admittingly go through our fair share of plastic iced coffee cups/straws but we do recycle them at least (most of the time). It is shocking though when you see a few weeks worth stacked in our recycle bin. Not good. I must change this!
The list goes on...
We recently had a clogged drain, I had bought an eco brand of drain cleaner and felt proud to be using something natural, well....it didn't work. Day after day I followed the instructions and got no results, in fact it seemed to be getting worse! My husband cleared the drain out as best as he could (aka my hair) and still nothing, we eventually purchasing a chemical drain cleaner and poof, problem solved. I felt guilty yes, but I loved that first shower where the water went down as it should! Guilty. guilty. shame. shame. Next time we have a problem, I'll try a different brand, is that a compromise?
Also, LED light bulbs, we've always had an issue using these, we seem to pick the wrong ones over and over, and we did it again, we swung by the hardware store and picked up a few to try, we hated them all, they all produced a hospital like glow, eeeek! I need some eco-fairy to come down and help me with lightening. We are going to return the bulbs to the hardware store and seek some help in choosing the next set.
Being an earth lovin' gal is sometimes very time consuming, and you've got to be willing to put in the extra time or else it's easy to let protecting the environment fall down on your list of priorities. I won't let that happen, no matter what!
So, I've got a renewed sense of saving the planet heroism! I vow to reduce the plastic cups I use, making it a point to bring my own cups as much as I can remember! Baby steps back folks.
I recently read this article and realized it's time to step it up!
My daughter Juliette has a lot of toys, we've got 2 big bins full, but it is the earth-friendly ones that I'll be tucking away for my next! While I'd love for all of Juliette's toys to be made from recycled, reclaimed, organic and pure materials that isn't always the case. There aren't as many brands of toys I really love out there to choose from. Enter Apple Park to save this mama's day! Apple Park is a San Francisco based company who made it their mission to create products that were environmentally responsible (think organic, recycled and sustainable materials!) but also super sweet and lovable. They've totally won me over on all fronts. Their soft teething toys are made from organic cotton and have the sweetest faces ranging from lambs to monkeys. Their family of finger puppets is sure to put on a show for your little one and their super soft 100% organic cotton blankets will make Mom & Dad happy! Their line includes wrist rattles, blankets, teething toys, soft blocks and more. Perfect for your little one or that gift you've gotta give. Why not give the gift of organic! What better way to start out life than with organic materials. Apple Park believes that as asthma (and other major medical issues too!) are on the rise we are learning more and more that they are related to chemicals in our environment. Apple Park products are hypoallergenic and made from 100% certified organic cotton (and are of course sans chemicals and other carcinogenic materials!)
These soft toys are the sweetest, more huggable, lovable you've seen. I want the whole Apple Park Picnic Pals family! I know I'll be giving these away as holiday gifts for sure for the new little ones in my life.
Oh, and whilst I don't like excess packaging, I am a sucker for it when it's done well, and this is believe me, no wrapping paper needed! The box is made from recycled materials and printed with soy based ink, no guilt necessary!
In their own words: "It's good to be green for our health, our environment, our children and our future."
Check them out online on Twitter @appleparktoys & on their super cute website
I came across the most amazing, innovative and cool DIY site that you simply MUST check out! Click here to go straight to Between the Lines for tutorials on such awesome things as DIY heart garlands, ornaments and a denim and leather tote I am desperate to make myself!
They've got tons of great earth lovin' DIY projects all of us (yes, even you) can do. Check out a few of my favorite here:
1. Take an ironed adult size T-shirt, right side out. (You could use a kid's T-shirt for a smaller sized bag).
2. Fold it in half as shown in picture 2.
3. Cut off the sleeves as shown in picture 3 and put them aside as you'll need them later to make a little pouch.
4. Cut around the neck-line as shown in picture 4.
5. Sew the bottom of the shirt closed using a French seam. If you're not familiar with the French seam check out this post. (Basically, you sew the hem closed on the right side, turn the bag inside out and sew another seam, sandwiching the first seam inside). Next, sew boxed corners, as explained here, in step 1. You could iron everything flat now, if you like.
6. Place the bag in front of you on a flat surface. Starting from the bottom, fold over the bag as shown in picture 6, about 2 1/2 inch, that is.
7. Now, starting about 3 inches from the side, with your scissors make 1/2 an inch to 3/4 of an inch cuts through all layers, leaving about 1 1/8 inch between every cut. Continue like this all the way to the other side and stop about 3 inches from the side seam.
8. Next, fold it over some more (an additional 2 to 2 1/2 inch) and repeat the cutting, but now right in between two cuts from the previous line, as shown in picture 8.
9. Go on like this a couple more times, depending on the size of your bag - I did 5 rows in total.
We're still in summer mode here, though for K. today is the last day of his summer vacation, unfortunately. This year's summer vacation has been very relaxing - Carpe Diem (seize the day) has been our motto. We've been doing plenty of things but only because we wanted to. And today I really wanted to do something crafty! So I did. It took me a while before I came up with something, though. I made a big mess as I kept pulling things out. But then eventually pieces fell into place when I found a wire clothes hanger (check out this article if you'd like to find out more about the origin of the wire clothes hanger - the drawings are great!).
The result of my crafty afternoon is this enhanced, colorful wire clothes hanger... with a short description in 16 photographs. Again, it's an easy craft you could have your kids do or help you with on a rainy afternoon. What you'll need:
- wire coat hanger (the ones you get at the dry cleaner's) - bias tape, ribbon, or a piece of fabric - a piece of (masking) tape - white glue - optional: ribbon, rivet punch + rivets
Steps:
1. If you don't have ribbon or bias tape at hand, make your own (pic. 4 & 5) by cutting a long strip from a piece of fabric. Don't bother about cutting in bias, we want the ribbon to fray! Yes, fray! Although I had only a small piece of fabric, I cut one long strip from it. This is how: start cutting a strip lengthwise from one side to the other, BUT WITHOUT CUTTING THROUGH TO THE VERY END! Repeat, alternating sides as shown in the diagram below.
2. Attach the ribbon to the wire coat hanger as shown in pic. 6 and wind the ribbon around a couple of times to hide the tape.
3. Next, start twisting the ribbon around the wire all the way around. Don't be afraid of the fabric fraying - we like the effect! To make sure the ribbon is everywhere tightly twisted around the wire, check once in a while and twist the ribbon between your fingers as you work your way back to where you stopped.
4. At the bottom of the hook twist the ribbon around both wires and work your way up the hook (pic. 9 & 10).
5. Cut off the ribbon leaving a 1 inch end. Put on some white glue and next continue twisting the ribbon, smearing the glue in and over the fabric and such way that the tip is completely covered and there are no loose ends left (pic. 11-13).
6. Optional: Decorate with a 6. Optional: Decorate with a tag. I used stamps for this and the motto of our summer "Carpe diem". Make one for every family member and have their names on it, or if you plan for a summer party make one for every guest. The possibilities obviously are endless. Use the rivet punch to attach a rivet and tie to the hanger with a piece of ribbon. All done!
(All images and content come directly from Between the Lines, thank you!)
This Sunday Kevin, Chelsea, Juliette and I are taking part in the Farm Sanctuary Walk for Farm Animals! I know you're asked often to donate and I am sure it's not easy to part with your hard earned dollars, but this organization is soley supported by it's wonderful supporters. Please take a moment, and donate, even a few dollars goes far!
Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, New York, and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming.
I hope you will make a pledge of support for farm animals in need by making a donation for my participation in the 2010 Walk.
September starts the season for me, we kick it off with my daughter Juliette's birthday, then my wedding anniversary, my parents wedding anniversary onto Halloween, my Mother-in-Law's birthday then bam, Thanksgiving. My all time favorite holiday! It's about family, being cozy and most of all FOOD. It's not about consumerism, unless you count stuffing your face full of delicious that is.
