Photo credit: Mr. Kris

Instead of being a happy and joyous time of year, Christmas (and the holiday season in general) tends to add more stress and anxiety to already stressed out and busy lives for a lot of people.  Whether is financial concerns or the pressure to find “the perfect gift” for a loved one, many people get overwhelmed from the pressure and emphasis placed on holiday gift giving.  Messages from the media constantly reminding us that we are in or heading towards a recession and at the same time being told that there are X amount of days until Christmas can really talk a toll.

In my previous post in this series, I touched a little on homemade gifts.  For a lot of us…or some of us, making gifts can be very relaxing and rewarding for both the giver and receiver. If you don’t have the time, patience, and/or skill to do that, here are some more low stress, and potentially money saving ideas.

Give only one gift.
A relatively low-stress, time, and money saving idea is to give one gift per friend or family member, including one gift for the children.  You can also just give one gift, period.  Just like many workplaces organizes a Secret Santa, this is something that can be done with friends and family.  A Secret Santa is when you put the names of all of your friends, family, co-workers, group members, etc into a “hat” and everyone draws one name.  You have one person to give one gift to. That’s it. Typically there is a price limit (usually around $15-20) for the gifts, but you can set the price limit to whatever you’d like as a group or family unit.  For simplicity, you can use this free online service: Secret Santa; which is very useful for family and friends who are out of the area.

Give something you already have
I have a fairly large Kitchen Aid mixer (the biggest model they make)  that I purchased with high hopes several years ago. I loved to bake and did it often.  After being diagnosed with Celiac Disease and Insulin Resistance, my love of sweets and breads are over (for the most part) and I don’t make nearly enough gluten free alternatives to justify owning a huge mixer. There are many alternatives I can make, but its not something I do often since I very seldom share such foods with others.  The mixer is in excellent condition and will make someone who also loves to bake very happy. Since it is very heavy, this will go to someone in my local area to avoid the high cost and hassle of shipping.  Do you have items such as small kitchen appliances, books, baby items, etc  that are in good condition you no longer need that someone else can use?

Staying green
One way to reduce waste during the holiday season is to not create waste.  This year I won’t be using any wrapping paper, but instead, I will wrap gifts using any stray tissue paper I collected over the past few years, scrap fabric from my sewing projects and finding creative ways to use ribbon or yarn to “wrap” gifts. Wrapping paper is not necessary, especially since it will end up in the recycling bin by the end of the day.

Here are some unconventional gift wrapping ideas at eartheasy.com.

If you must use wrapping paper, you can try tree free wrapping paper.

Reducing Christmas waste when it comes to decorations is also essential.  All That Glisters is Not Green from Guardian UK

Next post in this series: “Not buying it”.

What is your opinion regarding holiday gift giving in general?

Photo credit: Marshall Flickman

After a great deal of trial and error, I decided to revamp the website at Green and Chic to give it a new look and feel.  Its finally done (with a matching blog to boot).

Shescribes is currently hosting a Green and Chic giveaway posted on November 11th.  The giveaway is for a tube of Deep Steep Honeydew and Spearmint Body Butter.

The deadline to enter is Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 11:59 PM.

I am also offering free shipping at Green and Chic with the code FREESHIPPING (enter at checkout) until December 3rd.

Photo credit: AnnaKika

I usually don’t think about holiday gift giving until around December 21st, but wanted to share a few ideas for this season.  Gift ideas that are useful and reduce cost and clutter to both the giver and receiver.

Handmade gifts: This is definitely not a new concept and I’m sure many of you are already ahead of the curve on this one.  Time and skill are two issues that usually come up when thinking about handmade gifts.  For this reason, my favorite item to make are knitted scarves.   I’m by far not an expert knitter.  Throws, blankets, scarves; anything in a straight line is pretty much all I can do.  In terms of time, using large needles and comparable yarn would help you get your project done in no time.  Public transportation, waiting in line at the grocery store, lunch breaks, steeling five minutes here and there - anytime you have to wait for something are great times to get a small knitting project done.

Knitting blogs or blogs that occasionally speak about knitting:
Stitchywich
Carrieoke
Show and Tell: “Use it or Lose it” knitting
Okay Knits

How to knit
How to knit - The basics (YouTube)
How to knit a scarf
Knitting Help

Vogue Knitting | Chic Knits | Knit N Style If only I can knit like that! Fashion knitting is a skill I would love to have, but I think I will stick with blankets, throws, and scarves for now. 

More on handmade gifts.
Tsh at Simplemom.net has a few sewing projects you can get started on now: Holidays by Hand: Celebrate the Season With Your Sewing Skills

If doing it yourself isn’t your thing, there’s always Etsy!

Also, Green and Clean Mom Blog presents: 2008 Green Holiday Gift Guide
Getrichslowly.org/blog offers a host of ideas tips in A Do-It-Yourself Christmas: 34 Great Gifts You Can Make Yourself

Does anyone have more homemade gift ideas?  Candles, soaps, handmade cards - anything?  Please share what you do (or would like to do) and any related links.

I am not pregnant, but I love using this Mommy-to-be Stretch Mark Cream on my body.  I have very dry skin and this cream feels wonderful.

Though Erbaorganics products are made with mothers and babies* in mind, anyone who has damaged, sensitive or just dry skin can benefit from this line.  The products are made with gentle and rich ingredients to soothe and nourish the skin.  They are also lightly scented with high quality essential oils.

I have *small* sample packets of Erbaroganics products to give away.  Post a comment below telling us how you found the Green and Chic blog  and five people  (chosen randomly) will receive samples of:

Baby Body Wash
Baby Lotion
Stretch Mark Cream
Foot and Leg Refresher

Winners will be notified via email on November 23rd.

Sign up below to receive notifications of future giveaways (next time, a full-size product)

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*Erbaorganics eco-friendly organic mommy-to-be and baby skincare lines have been designed with care and consideration for all the unique needs of pregnancy and infancy. Made with only the finest natural and organic ingredients available, these luxurious products are specially formulated to nourish baby’s sensitive skin and nurture mom’s changing needs. Enjoy moisturizing aloe, healing echinacea, nourishing lavender, and soothing chamomile in rich creams, lotions, oils, gels, washes, and baths. Completely free of parabens, pesticides, SLS’s, artificial colorings and fragrances, you can rest assured that you’re using a product that is safe, clean, and good for the environment. All products contain from 75% - 99% certified organic ingredients, with many that have earned the hard-to-obtain “USDA certified organic” seal. There are enough things to worry about when expecting or caring for a newborn; choosing a skincare line should not be one of them.

Green and Chic

If you use a microwave, do you stand ten feet away when its on because of the radiation?  Do you avoid using sponges at all cost because of germs? Do you avoid eating certain foods or produce if you don’t know for sure if its organic or not to avoid pesticides?

On this blog, I do write a great deal about toxic substances that are used in our day-to-day lives, but also want to keep it light and (hopefully) fun.  Baring allergies, intolerance’s or illness you or your family members may have, sometimes we can get too caught up up in whats “deadly” .The question is, how do you find that balance once you become aware that certain habits you’re used to may not be healthy for you and your family?

My guess is you have to pick and choose whats most important to you.  For me, its the use of artificial fragrances in personal and home care products because of my allergies (perfumes gives me migraines).  Also, I avoid certain foods to a point.

Between news about what Sarah Palin is wearing and what the stocks are doing, there has been some headlines about the safety of our food (again), specifically chocolate candy.  The Cheeseslave blog wrote a couple of great posts on this issue:

Very Scary Halloween Candy
More on Potentially Tainted Halloween Candy

Personally, this scares the crap out of me given there has already been deaths associated with melamine.  Its been quite a while since I’ve had mainstream chocolate, but my concern is for others and their children.  Other people may not be that concerned.

Other things people are concerned about may include, mattresses, clothing that isn’t organic, the use of plastics, cosmetics, cell phones, and much more.

How do you find your balance when it comes to keeping your and/or your family healthy and safe?

Though we’ve heard about “Halloween safety” year after year for as long as some of us can remember, its always good to be reminded; especially when it comes to children.

Here are some great tips and ideas from Source News Papers to keep your Halloween happy, healthy and safe.

Halloween tips and tricks

The only one I DON’T agree with is:

“When purchasing costumes and accessories, look for “Flame Resistant” labels.”  Here is a  previous post on the matter:  Fire retardant chemicals found in toddlers’ blood

One way to reduce the risk of fires is to avoid candles all together.

If you must light up:

-Keep candles out of reach and walking space of children and avoid putting them in places where they can be knocked around  (small tables, etc).

-Make sure there is always adult supervision.

-Trim wicks prior to each use to within ¼-inch from the top of the candle.

-Keep a non-expired fire extinguisher near.

Also read National Geographic - Green Guide - Halloween Safety; an oldie but goodie!

If you have any other tips, please let us know.  Stay safe everyone!

www2.southplainscollege.edu

Over the next few days, I will be updating the Green and Chic website and blog (though it will still be functional).  The updates will improve the look, feel and usability of the site.

Sometime in the next 1-2 weeks after the site is completed, I will be having a  special promotion offering free shipping for orders of any amount. To keep updated for this and other promotions, sign up for our newsletter below.

Sign up for our Email Newsletter

This year, you will find a host of articles and blogs with tips on how to reduce waste, energy usage and cavities for Halloween.

Big Green Purse presents: A Green and Cheap Halloween - 10 Tips
This article offers great costume and trick-or-treat bag ideas.

The Green Parent presents: How to Celebrate Green

Mama Joules presents: Its Almost Time for a Green Halloween!

Regionz Kidz presents: Make Halloween Green in your Community

Teensy Green presents: Green your Halloween

River Wired presents: Green Halloween Decorations for your Home

Stopglobalwarming.org presents: This Halloween, Think Green - tips on how to lessen your carbon footprint this Halloween.  Tips include email party invites and serving healthy, seasonal food. 

Eco Bites presents: A Green Halloween

greenhalloween.org offers many great articles including Host Your Own Green Halloween Party or Neighborhood Bash and Green Halloween Costume Ideas

How Green is Halloween?

Please feel free to share any tips and ideas you have.

Have a happy and safe Halloween everyone!

If you are in search of a sulfate, paraben and artificial fragrance free body wash, try Deep Steep’s Refreshing Body Wash in Lavender Chamomile.  Deep Steep’s body wash offers and rich and creamy lather with gentle, effective cleansing.  This formula combines shea and cocoa butters to hydrate and restore skin elasticity while organic plan extracts moisturize and tone.

All formulas are free of artificial ingredients and chemical preserviteves.

While shopping with Green + Chic, enjoy FREE shipping for orders of $75 and more.  Also our flat rate shipping is only $4.95.