We celebrate a winter holiday at our home that is a combination of Hanukkah, Christmas and Winter Solstice. Mr. Sweet Greens was raised in a family that celebrated Hanukkah. I was raised in a family that celebrates Christmas. We both love, love, love Winter Solstice, so, we mixed everything together for our own special winter holiday.
With that said, Hanukkah starts in 4 days, Eben is super excited. Wouldn’t this Arroyo Modern Hanukkah Menorah from Amenity home make this Hanukkah bright and beautiful? I love that it is handcrafted with hand hewn FSCcertified walnut. The candles are hand-poured soy candles that are beautiful with a clean, pure scent.
The holidays are right around the corner. Have you purchased all of the goodies for the girls in your life? Here are some that I think would make fantastic Eco friendly gifts::
I received this set to review and I adore it. It contains Beeswax Lip Balm, Lemon Butter Cuticle Crème, Milk and Honey Body Lotion and Soap Bark & Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream Cleansing Cream. I love all the products and if you have ever used Burt’s Bees you will know why I love them. I think these would make lovely gifts for your wife, girlfriend, mom, sisters or your best friend.
AlimaPure’s Holiday Collections are fab, fab, fab. I received the Classic and Modern Jewel Box Collections and the colors are fabulous and affordable. The Classic Jewel Box Collection is more neutral colors while the Modern Jewel Box Collection has bright colors. Your gal will sparkle this holiday season these holiday collections. The colors are fabulous for winter and perfect for giving or treating yourself.
Isn’t this bag lovely? I love the color and the style of this bag, you can wear it as a messenger or tucked under your arm. It has a vintage feel that is modern and vegan. It is handcrafted by Crystalyn Kate in Seattle. I have been wishing for a new handbag for the holidays and I think this would be lovely.
I also receive a set of these lovely Super Shiny Lip Glosses. The colors are fabulous without being over the top. My favorite part is that these glosses are not sticky but moisturizing. These would make great little stocking stuffers. Better yet, pair these with some of Burt Bee’s lip balms and other body essentials for the perfect little gift package. Burt’s Bees also has super affordable shipping {$2.95} and a free gift with every order.
I also love this smaller clutch that would be perfect for your keys, cell phone, credit cards, cosmetics and cash. This would also be perfect for me, since there are many times that I don’t want to take my large handbag with me.
Did you know that you can look Eco fabulous and save the Central and South American rain forests at the same time? It is true. I recently came across a lovely organization called Andira Rain Tees. Rain Tees are the Eco friendly concept envisioned by Beth Doane who donated school supplies to children in endangered rain forests across Central and South America and had them draw what they saw happening around them. To share the stories of these children from around the world, Rain Tees prints their names, countries, illustrations and thoughts on 100% certified organic apparel and canvas to create Rain Tees and totes. Rain Tees only uses Eco friendly inks and dyes and their workers are paid 25% above average wages so that things like health care and education can come first in their families. How lovely is that? The best part, for every Rain Tee that is sold, a child in “Kids Saving the Rain Forest” plants a tree to replace one that has been destroyed in their homeland. To date “Kids Saving the Rain Forest” has planted over 6,000 trees. Rain Tees would make a lovely gift for your friends and family this holiday season, not only are you supporting a lovely cause, but you will look lovely as well.
Beth sent me the lovely Joison Tee, illustrated by JoisonCanelos of Ecuador. The Joison Illustration has graced the runways of Mercedes Benz Fashion week in Los Angeles, and is a bold, bright and elegant statement from the eyes of a young child living in the Amazon. I love the colors and have always loved the artwork of children, so this shirt has become one of my faves. Not to mention the shirt is super soft and cozy.
Beth has been so lovely to offer ONE of my wonderful readers a Logo Rain Tee. The Rain Tee Logo Tee design was inspired by the many children who The Andira Rain Tee organization has had the pleasure to know through their illustrations and words. The illustration on this tee combines trees, flowers and animals living in the rain forest in harmony. Lovely.
How to Enter
1. Subscribe to Sweet Greens (if you haven’t already) and confirm the subscription in the email from FeedBurner.
2. Visit Andira Rain Tees and tell me which item would cheer up your home.
Additional Entries please leave a comment for each that you do.
* Share Andira Rain Tees on Twitter and follow @SweetGreens. you can tweet each day, just leave a separate comment * Share Andira Rain Tees on Facebook and join Sweet Greens Facebook Fan Page. * Digg, Kirtsy or StumbleAndira Rain Tees. * Add Sweet Greens to your Technorati Favorites.
Rules for Entry
* Please leave a way for me to contact you if you win. You do not need to leave your email address if don’t wish to share it. Just make sure to check back at the bottom of this post after the contest ends to see if you won.
* Contest ends October 19th @ 12am EST. Winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator and will be announced the following day. (I will announce the winner, if I do not hear from you within 72 business hours, I will pick another winner.)
* You must leave a comment telling me which item you love in order to qualify.
There are many great things you can do to make your birthday, holiday, entertaining and wedding gifts and cards Earth friendly. Here are a few from Green Chic-Saving the Earth in Style.Remember to leave your own tips in the comments for a chance to win a copy of the book!
Send Green Cards: When you are sending cards and invitations for a divine affair such as a wedding, shower, engagement party, birthday, or holiday party that nothing beats a lovely hard copy in the mail. However, there are ways to make your cards and invitations greener. For example, look for cards and invitation that are:
100% post consumer recycled paper
organic cotton paper
kenaf or hemp paper
tree-free paper
While we are talking about card, just for fun, here are 8 Eco fabulous gift ideas to go with it:
Frame a favorite photo for a friend or family member in a reclaimed frame.
A gift certificate or card to your friend’s favorite boutique.
Purchase tickets to a sport game, the theatre or concert.
A gift certificate for a mani/pedi is fun for the girls in your life.
Private yoga or pilate’s lessons.
A vintage guitar.
A beautiful bottle of biodynamic wine.
Plant a tree in your loved ones name.
That is all I have from Green Chic-Saving the Earth in style. We will be voting to choose the best green tips – stay tuned!
♪ My true love gave to me, a stocking made from recycled suit coats. ♫
The holidays are right upon us, and my first giveaway from the 12 Days of Etsy will make your mantle look lovely this holiday season. It is a lovely stocking made by the fabulous Etsy shop Mandinka Designs. This stocking is a “patchwork of yummy soft wools and cottons on the outside, and fully lined with satiny suit coat lining on the inside.” You can hang this lovely stocking from your mantle and stuff it full of goodies for the holidays and then when the holidays are over, use it anywhere in your house as a lovely decoration.
Mandinka Designs is owned by Mandy Curl with the assistance of her mother Liz. Mandy and Liz start the design process by hunting through their local thrifts for lovely suit coats with fabulous linings and labels. When they take suit coats home the magic begins with the designing of their lovely handbags, totes, accessories, toys and stockings. Every part of the suit coat is used, even the leftover pieces are used to make their sweet little bugs. rack. I think Mandinka’s hop is full of lovely things and right now I really, really love the Sidney handbag. What a lovely way to use the tag from the mens‘ suit, don’t you think?
A huge thank you to Mandinka Designs for sponsoring this lovely giveaway.
How to Enter
You have until December 14th at 12 pm EST to enter this giveaway.
Visit Mandinka’sEtsy Shop and leave a comment telling me what item you would love to receive this holiday season. One comment per person please.
Additional Entries **** Please help me spread the word about Sweet Greens’ 12 Days of Etsy by sharing it Twitter, Facebook, Kirtsy, your blog or any other social website that you use. I would greatly appreciate it! (Please leave a separate comment for each thing that you do.)
Are you wondering what the 12 Days of Etsy are, read about it here.
** UDPATE:: WINNER:: #26 Niecey. Thank you to everyone who entered.
I received this set to review and I adore it. It contains Beeswax Lip Balm, Lemon Butter Cuticle 
I also love this smaller clutch that would be perfect for your keys, cell phone, credit cards, cosmetics and cash. This would also be perfect for me, since there are many times that I don’t want to take my large handbag with me.
Beth has been so lovely to offer ONE of my wonderful readers a Logo Rain Tee. The Rain Tee Logo Tee design was inspired by the many children who The 
