Well, although this blog tries not to encourage you to buy, buy, buy. Particularly during the holidays I've compiled a list to get you through the holiday season. Many of which will require only things you already have around the house- so there are some REUSE options in here too!
1) Homemade cookies/ treats on a reusable.recyclable plate.
Maybe you have an old family recipe, or maybe you always wanted to try your hand at a fancy maple butter cookie. Maybe your only talent is buying the pre-made dough and using a nifty cookie cutter- whatever the result, the love and time will be evident in this delicious token of holiday cheer!
2) A hand- knit/sewn stocking.
You can steady your hand with knitting needles, get the pattern to make these on a knitting loom, or even just cut out patches of old clothing in stocking form and stitch them together. Then stuff the bottom with a little newspaper to hold the shape, and fill to the brim with little candies, your homemade cookies, or some of the other little treasures that makes your gift-getter happy!
3) A handmade gift from old tshirts/sweatshirts
Maybe you and a friend always went to broadway shows together? Maybe you ran Highschool track together?Maybe those clothes have been worn so much there are holes around the neck and stains in the pits?
Well, With t-shirts, you can cut out just the logo on the front and sew it onto the front of a blank tote bag. Or take a bunch of them and sew them onto a common back piece of fabric to make a memory quilt.
Sweatshirts, sew the sleeve ends together and the bottom shut. Cut off the hood and make a larger hole around the neck. Now you have an over the shoulder bag!
4) A book with a personal touch.
So you don't want to sew? What about taking a book you've already read and putting a personal note to the recipient about why you chose this book to pass along. Top it off with a new bookmark, or one made from just about anything :-).
5) Reusable lunch and snack bags
Just have to buy something? OK, well how about a reusable lunch and snack bag- lunchskins are under $10 and come in fun prints and patterns. http://www.lunchskins.com/
6) Tom's Shoes
A gift that gives and receives. When you buy a pair of Tom's shoes for yourself, or for others. A pair of shoes is donated to a person who doesn't have any. 'Tis better to give than receive- but here, you can do both!
7) Make up that won't clog your pores OR a Landfill.
Did you ever think about how much make up we throw away? Eye makeup can give you an infection after a few months of use. Powders break, a color goes out of style,etc. But there IS another option. Buy Make up from companies like MAC or Origins, where they offer a makeup return program. They will recycle/reuse the make up containers. And even give you a small discount on the purchase of your next gorgeous goodies!
8) A travel Mug.
Whether they drink starbucks religiously, make tea at home, or just like a nice cold cup of water- a travel mug can really reflect the personality of this person, and can keep more than 500 disposable cups out of a landfill in a year!
9) LED Tv
Still just got to have something flashy? A big screen? A flatscreen? Well, there are even ways to get green with your green ($). The smaller the tv whether in screen size or width- the better. That's less materials being extracted to make it. Then, you can look for EPEAT certified tvs (and other electronics) if you want a well sourced and even recycled % option. Look at the TV for energy star rating, energy guide annual cost, and LED lights. Energy star rating means that it will perform at a lower, more efficient cost. The energy guide estimate will support that. LED lights, while being more efficient have also been proven to provide better picture quality, so if you're trading in TVs, trade up!
10) Donate!
Donate old clothes, electronics, coats, lightly used toys to a local Goodwill or a charity drive.
Nothing you can part with? Donate money to keep an organization that aligns with your values in operation.
No money to give away? Donate your time! Foster an animal while they're waiting to find their forever home (www.homeforgooddogs.org). Serve at a soup kitchen, visit a family shelter nearby. It's the most wonderful time of the year- and doesn't everyone deserve to feel the same?
Whatever your talent, ability or desire to have a green holiday- I hope it is a magical one for you and those you love!
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