DoshaCare » Eco Style

Affordably Eco Chic Holidays Part Deux

doshacare — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:30:09 +0000

Welcome to my second installment of an affordably eco chic holiday. Today I want to focus on decor. Much debate goes on about how to define a “green” Christmas tree. I mean, it’s a tree for gosh sakes. My parents have done artificial trees for the last decade so they aren’t depleting any forests, but then there are a lot of chemicals that go into manufacturing an artificial tree. I, on the other hand, cannot exist in a world without the smell of pine accompanying my Christmas. I just got a four foot Noble fir and adore its chubby branches and beautiful pine aroma. The New York Times just ran an article called, “How Green Can a Christmas Tree be?” I didn’t even know there were such certifications applied to Christmas trees. Click on the link to read more : http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/garden/04garden.html?ref=garden

Okay, so I already loved www.etsy.com for one of a kind, homemade gifts, accessories, clothing, etc., but these eco friendly stockings are really sweet and you got to love the untraditional holiday colors.

Etsy Catch: rikrak Eco Friendly Felt Holiday Stocking, $18

“The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.”

When they say “with care” they are, of course, referring to environment. (Duh.) Which is why these rikrak felt stockings — handmade from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles — perfectly fit the bill. Plus they’re absolutely adorable. Whether you choose a personalized monogram or just a simple, festive motif, these environmentally-responsible stockings will make a whimsical addition to your holiday.

at etsy.com

Affordable Green Holiday Gifts

doshacare — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:10:53 +0000

Yay, it’s December!!!! Unfortunately the U.S. is officially in a recession and a lot of us are looking at really cutting back this holiday season. Whether you’re getting creative and crafty to create homemade goodies or are looking for some eco friendly, but reasonably priced offerings, here are some of my favorite suggestions from friends and a few online treasures that you can feel good about giving.

This is my first installment in this series, but stay tuned in every week for more creative and unique finds on the cheap! Today’s treasures are from www.eco-artware.com and would be totally desirable gifts even if they weren’t sustainable.

These imaginative handmade stuffed critters bring a smile to every child’s face, no matter what their age. Made from clean recycled wool sweaters and stuffed with shredded recycled polyester, each of our piglets, ducklings, penguins and elephants are handmade by the Pear Tree Studio and may be gently handwashed. Because they are made from unique, reused materials, each animal is one of a kind. Whether for decorating or for the toy box, they make a great addition to the family.

$26.00

Jim Mullan and Tori Rhoades create jewelry from recycled watch parts and found objects for their company, Mullanium. Some of their pieces feature recycled metals — copper, brass and steel — plated with silver or enhanced with oxidation to provide an fascinating array of colors and finishes.

$48.00

2008 Snowflake Ornament The designs are created in a small foundry from recycled broken window panes which are then crushed, melted, colored and poured into original molds. Each ornament hangs from a white ribbon (included). This foundry donates all profits to its immediate community.

$10.00

I just love this ornament and it totally goes with my Holiday decor color scheme of red, silver and aqua. Gorgeous and Green!

I’ll be talking about homemade gifts for loved ones tomorrow, that express the personalization and love behind Christmas and not simply adding another posession to someone’s collection.

What type of green are You?

doshacare — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:20:53 +0000

I love Sprig.com. I love their dedication to green living while maintaining their stylish sensibility. They don’t take themselves too seriously, like a best girlfriend they always have just the answer we’re looking for. And they have quizzes and polls. I love nothing more than a fun quiz that helps you learn just a bit more about yourself. Here’s a recent one with a different slant on being green. Give it a whirl at http://www.sprig.com/What_Type_of_Green_Are_You.

By the way, I’m a “Viva-La-Vintage Vixen”. What are you?

Greening Up Baby!

doshacare — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:04:24 +0000

This eco tidbit comes to us from sprig.com in honor of my friend and associate Heather, who just had baby, little Quincy Rose. Now, Heather is a very eco conscious mom, but this statistic floored me.

The Great Diaper Debate:

Americans throw away 570 diapers per second, 49 million diapers per day, and spend upwards of $2,000 in diapers per child. What’s more, these diapers will still be in landfills 300 years from now. Consider using, even for part of the time, reusable cloth or biodegradable diapers.

Check out Seventh Generation for safe and eco friendly baby products at www.seventhgeneration.com and www.gdiapers.com for diapers that are compostable, flushable or tossable.