I wrote an article for Cascadian Farm on 7 Simple Steps to a Green Thanksgiving. It covers everything from green cleaning your home for the big day to set up, preparation, clean up and leftovers. I would love if you would stop by my blog or my organic feed at Cascadian Farm and let me know what steps you take to green your Thanksgiving.
Archive | HOME AND GARDEN
Earth Friendly Etsy: Ogsplosh Recycled Door Stopper Giveaway
It is starting to get chilly outside. Have you noticed? Yesterday, was the first day that I had to wear pants and a long sleeve shirt, even with all of those clothes on, I was still chilly. It seems like the sunny warm days disappear overnight and the cool Fall weather sets in. It is definitely time to start weather proofing your home, if you haven’t already. If you have a basement door or another door or window in your home that lets in a little draft, you need a draft stopper. A draft stopper is the perfect way to keep a room toasty and it saves energy as well.
This week’s Earth friendly Etsy shop is Ogsplosh. Ogsplosh is owned by Christine who makes fab draft stoppers, scarves, jewelry, neck warmers and hats in her Wisconsin home. Christine is the mother of two wonderful daughters ages 7 and 10. She moved to Wisconsin from England with her husband and says it is one of the best decisions that she ever made. She started sewing a few years ago when a friend taught her how. I love when friends help each other learn something new, what a lovely way to bond.
One of my fave items at Ogsplosh are the draft stoppers. I love the fun colors and my favorite feature is that the draft stoppers close with Velcro, so you can empty them and throw them in the wash. Which is great considering the draft stoppper would be on the floor or windowsill all day and would eventually get dirty or dusty. I also love that they come in an array of patterns and can be altered to fit any door that you need them for.
Now you can stay cozy and warm with your choice of draft stopper. Christine @ Ogsplosh is such a dear to offer ONE of my readers whichever draft stopper you would like.
How to Enter
1. Subscribe to Sweet Greens (if you haven’t already) and click confirm in the email you receive from FeedBurner.
2. Visit Ogsplosh and leave me a comment telling me which item you love, love, love.
Additional Entries
Please leave a separate comment for each thing that you do.
* Share Ogsplosh on Twitter and follow @Sweet Greens.
You can tweet daily, just leave a separate comment each time you do.
* Share Ogsplosh on Facebook and join Sweet Greens Facebook Fan Page.
* Kirtsy, Digg or Stumble Ogsplosh.
* Add Sweet Greens to your Technorati favorites.
* Add Sweet Greens to your blogroll.
* Email a friend about Sweet Greens: Earth Friendly Etsy:: Ogsplosh.
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 7th @ 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.
Good Luck and Enjoy.
** UPDATE:: WINNER:: #35 Nyssa. Congrats and thank you to everyone who entered.
Earth Friendly Etsy: Chasing Lightning Bugs Recycled Paper Giveaway
If you want to see a giddy girl, be at my mailbox when I receive a handwritten letter or elegant invitation in the mail. I love them, you will hear me squeal in delight. The look and feel of a letter or invitation that someone took time to craft and write is so special to me. I have kept every letter and every card that I have ever received. I do not think it is necessary or Earth friendly to send a letter for every little thing, but if you want to tell someone something that you think they will want to have forever or are sending an invitation for a wedding or anniversary, I think a handwritten letter is the best option. Unfortunately, I can not tell you the last time that I received a handwritten letter. I still write thank you notes and send handwritten letters but possibly I am a dying breed. I have tried to instill this in my son Eben by having him write thank you notes for birthdays, holidays and special occasions. He doesn’t find it as lovely as I do. Ha!
Growing up I dreamed of a pen pal, but wasn’t sure how to get one since I didn’t have a cousin or friend that lived far away. Maybe as an adult, I will receive a beautifully written and elegantly crafted letter from a pen pal and my wish will come true. If I do receive a letter, I will be sure to mail a letter back in one of these fab envelopes made by Annette at Chasing Lightning Bugs.
Annette has traveled the world, read many books and received a BFA in painting. All of this has inspired the envelopes that she crafts using old, worn and no longer viable encyclopedias, atlases and maps and other found objects. She has beautiful envelopes that would be perfect for your pen pal, anniversary party or wedding invitation.
Annette lives in a beautiful little stone house with a huge garden full of lavender and crab apples trees on Lake Ontario in Kingston, Canada. She lives her life full of love and happiness on a beach full of beach glass, pebbles and peace for as far as the eye can see. Her studio is full of paintings, cans of brushes, jars of beach glass and piles of books. Annette lives in her beautiful paradise with her lovely husband and Great Dane Edgar.
Have you written a letter lately? Annette at Chasing Lightning Bugs has been so lovely to offer ONE of my lovely readers a set of handmade envelopes. If you win, please remember to use the envelopes to send someone you love a beautiful handwritten letter that they will cherish forever.
How To Enter
1. Subscribe to Sweet Greens (if you haven’t already) and click confirm in the email confirmation that you will receive from FeedBurner.
2. Visit Chasing Lightning Bugs and leave me a comment telling me who you would write a letter to.
Additional Entries
leave a separate comment for each thing that you do.
- Share Chasing Lightning Bugs on Twitter and follow @SweetGreens.
- Share Chasing Lightning Bugs on Facebook and join Sweet Greens Facebook Fan Page.
- Digg, Kirtsy or Stumble Chasing Lightning Bugs.
- Add Sweet Greens to your Technorati Favorites.
- Email a friend Sweet Greens Chasing Lightning Bugs Giveaway.
- Add Sweet Greens to your blogroll.
Rules for Entry
- Please leave a way for me to contact you if you win.
- Contest ends August 5th @ 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.
Good Luck.
UPDATE:: Winner is #26, Cindi. Congratulations and thank you to everyone who participated. I had a lot of fun reading who you would write your letters to.
Green Your Holidays with 5 Earth Friendly Hostess Gifts.
Have you been invited to the home of a friend, family member or colleague for Thanksgiving Dinner or a Christmas or Hanukkah celebration? Are you looking for a fab gift to take to thank the host and hostess for including you in their festivities? Look no further, here are a few of my favorite hostess gifts for the holidays or anytime.
1. A lovely gift of spices from Olio & Spices would be perfect for anyone who loves to cook. $39.95
2. A lovely bottle of Organic or Biodynamic Wine from Quiveria Winery. One of my favorites is the 2008 Fig Tree Vineyard, Sauvignon Blanc. $18
3. A lovely rosemary plant in a pretty pot would be the perfect centerpiece for any kitchen island and is a gift that can be enjoyed indefinitely.{Eben gave me this one last year as a gift.} $5-$10
4. A gift for the home is always a lovely gift. I really love these organic bamboo napkins from one of my fave Etsy shops Sewn Natural. $9
5. If you are going to give a bottle of wine, why not wrap it in an adorable Around the World Wine Tote from Delight.com. $11.50
What do you give as hostess gifts?
Green Your Holidays with Eco Friendly Stocking Stuffers for Her + A Giveaway for You from Tilvee
It is time to start planning for the upcoming holidays. I thought it would be fun if I share some of my fave green things for the holidays with you. I have a lot of great things picked out that will make you sing, ♪♫ I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas ♫♪. Then 2 weeks from now {mark your calenders}, I have a HUGE surprise for you that will make you giddy.
So first off, let’s talk about stocking stuffers. I love, love, love stocking stuffers. How much fun is it to open many little tiny packages picked especially for you? The best stocking stuffers are things that you love or things that you need. Here are some of my favorite stocking stuffers that I would love, love, love to receive.
Pambril Earrings in hibiscus red from The Andean Collection $19. You can read why I love The Andean Collection here.
Pomegranate Soap from Tilvee $5.75. You can read why I love, love, love Tilvee soap here.
Organic Cocoa Butter Lip Balm from Badger Balm $5. These are my fave lip balms because they are large and have a lovely scent.
Bicycle Inner Tube Journal from PalePink $45. You can read more of what I think about PalePink here.
Bird Ornaments from Amenity Home $9. You can read why Amenity Home is one of my fave shops here.
Are you excited for the holidays?
Tilvee would like to help you start your holiday stocking stuffer shopping. Tilvee will give ONE of my lovely readers a fab soap of your choice. Simply leave a comment tell me what you would like to find in your stocking this year?
Winner will be announced November 30th.
UPDATE: WINNER:: #6 Kat C. Congratulations and thank you to everyone who entered.