National Geographic Green Guide tackles the issue of greening your holidays and has done your research for you - taking the guess work and stress out of the equation and letting you enjoy your holiday season!
Here are a few tips from Green Guide:
DECORATIING:
Low-energy LED lights are everywhere now and come in a variety of shapes, colors, sizes and price ranges. Look for them at any store where you are shopping for holiday decorations.
Get creative! Pull the family together, and make your own decorations from gingerbread cookies, cards, origami patterns, ribbons or the old favorite, the popcorn-and-cranberry garland.
SHOPPING: Make sure to buy safe toys - with this February 10, 2009, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act will ban the use of hormone-disrupting phthalates (used to soften plastics) and will enact tougher-than-ever lead standards.
The good news: Toys "R" Us and other retailers have already started complying with some of the new rules in advance.
The bad news: Since the new law will come after this holiday shopping season, expect deep discounts on toys that don't meet the new safety standards so stores can get rid of the inventory they won't be able to sell after February.
See http://www.thegreenguide.com/products/Kids_&_Babies/Toys for a comprehensive buying guide.
WRAPPING: There are quite a few recycled and tree-free wrapping paper options on the market. However, if you can't find any in your area, consider these options:
Cover a shoe box in this year's recycled gift wrap and use it over and over again every year.
Consider DIY wrap-use newspaper sections chosen to fit the personality of recipient (Travel, Arts, Style, etc.) Or try using concert posters, t-shirts, or subway maps!
Showing posts with label The Green Guide. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Green Guide. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Halloween costumes
According to the Green Guide, American spend upwards of $5 billion on Halloween -- that’s a lot of money, and a lot of waste for one night! With the economy tightening everyone’s purse strings, National Geographic’s Green Guide has some tips for a frugal, safe, and green Halloween:
Save money and waste by making costumes yourself, using things already available in your closet.
Participate in a costume swap with friends or other families in your neighborhood.
Avoid buying a makeup set for face painting – many have chemicals that can seep toxins into your skin. Instead use Zinc Oxide or natural makeup.
Give out candy made with organic sugar or Fair Trade chocolate.
I have two kids of my own, and can attest to how much "home-made" costumes have gone out of favor. My girls don't want to be the only ones in class looking different, despite MY values. Luckily I am a firm believer in hand-me-downs and am a frequent lurker on Craig's list. While I haven't had much luck getting my kids to wear home-made costumes of the sort I would throw together (in the absense of sewing skills I rely on my glue gun), we have been both the recipients and the givers of gently used costumes from both friends and strangers.
This year my oldest wanted to be a pioneer girl like Laura Ingalls; after searching the web I found my options were a beautiful hand-sewn 100% cotton dress (that cost $70!!!!), or a 100% polyester made in China dress for $25. Not good options. After talking to some friends about it, within the week I had an offer to borrow a costume from a neighbor who had hand-sewn her own (now older) daughter's pioneer dress. How fortuitous!!!
To the above recommendations, I would also add buying or making costumes out of all-natural materials like cotton that you know will get a lot of play in the dress up box: pirates, cowboys/cowgirls, doctor coats, and princesses come to mind. After several years of play, your investment will pay off, only to be enjoyed by other children when you donate it via Freecycle or your local secondhand shop. Happy Halloweening!
Save money and waste by making costumes yourself, using things already available in your closet.
Participate in a costume swap with friends or other families in your neighborhood.
Avoid buying a makeup set for face painting – many have chemicals that can seep toxins into your skin. Instead use Zinc Oxide or natural makeup.
Give out candy made with organic sugar or Fair Trade chocolate.
I have two kids of my own, and can attest to how much "home-made" costumes have gone out of favor. My girls don't want to be the only ones in class looking different, despite MY values. Luckily I am a firm believer in hand-me-downs and am a frequent lurker on Craig's list. While I haven't had much luck getting my kids to wear home-made costumes of the sort I would throw together (in the absense of sewing skills I rely on my glue gun), we have been both the recipients and the givers of gently used costumes from both friends and strangers.
This year my oldest wanted to be a pioneer girl like Laura Ingalls; after searching the web I found my options were a beautiful hand-sewn 100% cotton dress (that cost $70!!!!), or a 100% polyester made in China dress for $25. Not good options. After talking to some friends about it, within the week I had an offer to borrow a costume from a neighbor who had hand-sewn her own (now older) daughter's pioneer dress. How fortuitous!!!
To the above recommendations, I would also add buying or making costumes out of all-natural materials like cotton that you know will get a lot of play in the dress up box: pirates, cowboys/cowgirls, doctor coats, and princesses come to mind. After several years of play, your investment will pay off, only to be enjoyed by other children when you donate it via Freecycle or your local secondhand shop. Happy Halloweening!
Saturday, September 06, 2008
The Green Guide
The digital edition of National Geographic's Green Guide is now available. Visit their website for great articles on greening your child's school, buying eco friendly school supplies, how to make the most of late season peaches, and food storage solutions that work in the microwave.
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