Greening the Basics- In the Bedroom

from Jenny GG Photos

This month is all about the basic things many of us buy, and often on a regular basis, that makes up the majority of our shopping. In other words, it won't address the appliance or furniture purchase you might make once or twice in a lifetime- it's going to be the tissues and other stuff you buy pretty often without putting too much thought into it.

If you only have 3 rooms in your space, it's a living space, a bedroom, and a bathroom. The bedroom gets its own space because many of us need some privacy and quiet to sleep. Unlike a kitchen or bathroom, you don't need too many basics for it, and you may not shop for the room that often, but there are a couple of things you probably buy for the room pretty regularly.

You can read over and over again advice to keep the bedroom simple and not have much in there. Honestly, that isn't us, but I do see the wisdom. If you need storage, check out my closet organization blog. But also consider donating more of what is in the room. In most of our cases, we don't need more storage, we need WAY less stuff.

So what do you need in a bedroom? A few ideas, but if I am missing something, someone let me know! If you are looking for more bedroom info, also check out this post from the wedding registry!

1. Facial Tissues

Hankies might be a little gross for you (I agree), but you can still green this simple item by only buying recycled tissues! It's so easy, and honestly your snot is not that precious.

Our Pick: Green2 Tree Free Facial Tissues- 30 boxes of 90 tissues is 48.71 (So 1.62 a box and a little under 2 cents a tissue). We use these in our house right now. They may not be quite as soft as a kleenex, but they are close enough to get us through lots of colds. This isn't recycled paper, it doesn't use tree product at all. The company is owned by women, and a percentage of the proceeds go to replanting trees. So pretty awesome.

Other Options- Green Forest Facial Tissues (24 boxes of 175-about 1 cent a tissue). Not only is this way cheaper, they also have great reviews for being soft (my favorite quote "I am not a major hippy, but if I could do something good for the environment, why not?") Preach it

Seventh Generation- Just to compare, their single box of 175 tissues is 2.84. In case you don't have the room to buy in bulk, there are still eco-friendly options for you!

Kimberly Clark Surpass Recycled Tissues- Kimberly Clark manufactures Kleenex and most of the other brands you use, but this product is 100% post-consumer product. 36 boxes of 110 tissues is 59.24.

2. Sheets

 Ok, not an everyday purchase, but definitely something you will buy more than a few times in your lifetime (unless you have really amazing and long-lasting sheets, in which case, we need to talk). The greenest thing you can do for these is avoid the cheap, Made in Elsewhere sheets we would usually buy at Target and find something that has traveled a shorter distance and will last longer. It's worth it to get good sheets.

My pick-American Dorm sells a line of Dreamfit, made in America sheets that look well-made and still come in a wide variety of colors. I would start with them.

Other options-  Linoto if you are being fancy. You can also look at AB Lifestyles and Cozy Pure.

3. Moisturizer

In my house, most of my lotion, make-up, and chapstick live in our bedroom so I can get ready while The Boy is in the shower. At the very least, I always have moisturizer/ sunscreen combo in the bedroom so I can put it on right before I do my makeup.

Like all lotions, makeup, and cosmetics, moisturizers can legally dodge many questions of where it is made and the ethics behind it. It's a tricky topic, so let me know if I am missing something you love.

Our Pick- I use Andalou Naturals, based out of California, for shampoo, so I know this company sounds great.

Other Options- Just listing here! ApothOtopIa, Herbal Moon Apothecary, Gaia Body Works, Nabbies Handmade, Hippy Lab, Raw Love Sunscreen, Rootdown Organics, Calm Natural Skin Care, Christina Moss, and Block Island.


Alright! Another list down, but we can add more if there are things you often buy for your bedroom.Be sure to check the Giant List of Shopping Lists for more Eco-Friendly, Ethical, and Made in America shopping ideas!

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Greening the Basics- Really Clean Laundry

Laundry. If you are an adult, you do it. If you are anything like me, you hate it. If you are a lot like me... Some of us go to a laundromat, a place on campus, our parents' house, or our own basement, but laundry is something we all do and put money into.

Even if laundry is the devil's game, it turns out to be a goldmine for bourgeois environmentalists like me. We make the same purchases over and over again to do laundry, and if we all switched even half of those buys, we could cut out a tremendous amount of waste.

Forget Drying Sheets; Dryer Balls are the Business

First, hang drying is so much more eco-friendly than using the dryer. I get that it isn't always possible, and it doesn't always make sense for life. On the other hand, if you can get away with some hang-drying, DO IT! You don't have to do it all this way but even a load or two a week can cut your energy bills and your impact. Need a cord? Try Great White, Xcords, or use American-made Paracord.

Dryer Sheets are another one time use item that is basically instant garbage. They are also often covered in chemicals (read the box), and those chemicals (some potential carcinogens) get all over your clothes and you. It's cheap, but it comes at a high environmental price. The good news is that this is one of the easiest environmental changes we can all make!

1. Dryer Balls- You can buy these sets of dryer balls everywhere from Amazon to Etsy and they will last hundreds or thousands of trips through the dryer. So if you are the kind of person who throws a sheet in every time, a six pack of these balls will keep a whole row of boxes in the stores. That's less garbage for the dump and more money for you.

This one is a no-brainer, and I bet most people will have switched over before we know it. be ahead of the trends and do it now. I love mine (as much as I can love any laundry implement, and I would never go back. Here is a list of them:

A Little Green Bee- 19.99 for 6 balls, Made in America, Handmade, Natural, and Well-Reviewed
Pure Homemaker (Wow, I hate that name)- 12.95 for 6. Wool from New Zealand, Made in USA
Wonderful Wool Balls (Much better name)- 15.95 for 6 Extra large balls- about 9 inches diameter. Mine are less than 6, so these balls must last forever.
Ovella- 3 for 18- Made in Michigan in cute swirly colors. Part of Amazon's response to Etsy.Would make great wedding or baby shower gift.
Feeling Fluffy Balls- 17.96 They say each ball will last at least a thousand loads. That's 6 thousand loads for 18 dollars. I hate to think I will even do that much laundry in my life.
Kitchow- 15.97 for 8. Not as forthcoming about where they are made, but otherwise look good.
LooHoo- 3 Pack for 27.99. Why so much more? The wool is from the US and they are made in Maine. They also come in pretty colors.
Unvert- 6 for 14.99- Uses New Zealand wool and says it is organic, but maybe not the best option.
Thirsty Sheep- 6 and a storage bag for 19.99- These ones are rather small, but might be great with the storage bag if you are taking your laundry somewhere to do it.
Woolzies- 6 for 18.95- I think these are the ones I got for a gift (MIL, correct me if I am wrong). Made of New Zealand wool in Nepal (I found a couple others Nepal-made. No sign it is fair trade though, so I am not sure how the vulnerable people there are treated as employees).

from Bog Berry Handicraft

Want to buy them on Etsy instead? A Little Green Bee is on there (and slightly cheaper if you go for the larger sets), You can also try Bog Berry Handicraft, Redhead and Blue, Flatland Alpacas, and Pasta Quilts for balls that make for adorable gifts.

Plastic dryer balls are also reusable, but aren't nearly as eco-friendly. When in doubt, choose the thing that isn't plastic.

As a side note, I know my mother-in-law mostly likes the balls, but every so often she misses a drier sheet. If you have a particularly static-prone set of clothes, maybe keeping one box just for such occasions will help? If you only use it once in a very blue moon, I bet that one box can last forever.

As a second side note, watch out for toddlers if you have these. They see them as very fun toys and will steal them from you.

A Change in Tides- Switch your Laundry Detergent

You remember when the little detergent packs came out, and how they felt like such a step up? Why can't we pour our own detergent again? The packs are kind of cute (I like the swirl on the tide) but they turn out to be somewhat dangerous for little ones and pretty wasteful fir all of us. They also come (like almost everything in the laundry aisle) in plastic jugs that create a ton of waste. How many do you throw away in a year? Now multiply that by everyone you know. That's all landfill and our water. So basically, laundry soap leaves a lot of room for improvement.

1. Make your Own- Making your own detergent is a relatively common practice, you can find tons of organic and low-cost recipes online. Thank goodness for Pinterest. You could make enough to last you a year or start with a small batch and see how you like it. Another awesome way to be eco-friendly and save money all at once!

2. The Simply Co- This zero-waste company is one of my favorite finds this year. The formula they use is simple, the packaging is all glass and recycled paper, and our first jar was enough for 4 months of laundry in a house of three people (one of which is a slobby toddler). It didn't handle every stain, but we will just put dawn dish soap on the stuff that looks really rough, and that does the trick. We save money and I would never go back.

3. Other Clean and Homemade Detergent Companies- Etsy has tons of options for handmade laundry soap, so I will go through some with the most responsible packaging and lots of good reviews- Brighton Wool and Honey (Ohio), Green Bubbles Home (Nebraska), Shadelily Home Arts (North Carolina), The Bubbly Kettle (Kentucky), JMC Handmade (Connecticut), My Manoa (Hawaii), SOL Powder (Ohio) and Autumn Moon Soap Company (Pennsylvania). We have used this last soap (I was sure I was going to make my own, but started here to see how homemade worked) and it was really great as well.

4. Eco-Friendly Cleaners (in as large a size as possible)- Ecos sells a detergent with minimal chemicals (though where they do this and the materials of the packaging are unclear. Seventh Generation makes highly concentrated non-toxic detergent that you can buy in bulk as well. Biokleen is non-toxic, 3x concentrated, as well and its the only one that is proudly made in the US.

5. Buying in BULK- Love your Tide but want to do a little bit better? I still have got you. Buy it in the bulkiest bulk you can find. Natural Homelogic sells my favorite of these options (though their biggest bottle is 50 oz)- it's made in America, toxin-free, organic, and highly concentrated. The biggest Tide I could find on Amazon was 150 oz, but I bet larger ones are available at Costco. Powder is almost always more efficient if your machine can use it.


I have written about laundry baskets, organization, and bags before, so if you need that information, be sure to check it out here. Here are a few other things you might be looking for-

For an ironing board, you can find them made nearby! Check Homz Durabilt or Homz T Leg.
Need a steamer? Jiffy Steamers have been made in America for decades! We have one, and it is awesome.

Want to green some other basics? Check the list of all of our shopping lists!

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Wedding Wednesday- Where to Donate your Wedding Dress

taken by first blush photos

Whether you got married 3 weeks ago or 30 years ago, you may very well still have your dress sitting in a closet somewhere. This is one of those things that tends to get carried from house to house. Some of us have a lot of emotional attachment to the dress. Some of us have hopes that a family member will want to wear it someday (though I think if you got married during the age of super synthetic dresses, the odds are low). Some of us just don't know how to get rid of it, because throwing it out feels wrong.

Wedding dresses are a pretty environmentally tricky purchase- you spend a lot of money on something that will only be used once. I know I looked at lots of used dresses, but never had the nerve to buy one that way. Now, I think I might have gone about it differently. I did end up with a dress I loved, but in the end, I am not sure it made that huge of a difference.

This blog covers a lot of territory on shopping more ethically, but one of the most eco-friendly things you can do is to have less and to get rid of things in an ethical way. Sure, maybe someday your daughter will want to wear your wedding dress (she won't) but in that time, that dress could have lived multiple lives or multiple weddings. In an ideal world, we would all be way more willing to let things go, because the more used stuff is out there, the more we can all invest in secondhand instead of more brand new stuff that will land in a landfill.

So, the question becomes, where can you offload that wedding dress?

First, you could sell it online for yourself, make a little money back, and help out another bride. Here are some options:

Once Wed was my favorite place to browse dresses, and I think you can resell decor as well. Honestly, if I could do it all again, I would probably buy a dress from here.

Preowned Wedding Dresses is probably the most commonly used, though I tried to sell a dress on here and it never worked out. Still, if you have a recent dress that someone can still go to the store and try on, you might have a lot more luck than I did.

Second, you could donate it to an organization that will sell it secondhand to help make them money (my favorite idea, but you do you). Some ideas:

Adorned in Grace, based in Northern Oregon and Southern Washington, sells bridal and formal wear (so maybe somewhere to donate all those bridesmaid dresses?) to raise money to help women once caught in human trafficking and to raise awareness of the epically huge problem. Pretty awesome cause if you ask me. Your dress gets a second life, AND you get to help other women. So cool. I think I will send a few old prom and bridesmaid dresses their way.

Angel Gowns breaks your heart and makes you feel better about the universe at the same time. These organizations take donated wedding gowns and turn them into dresses for stillborn babies or babies that pass away. If your dress is older and you don't think some of the other organizations would want them, look into the multiple angel gown organizations to give a special gift to parents going through something truly awful.

Brides Across America is incredibly cool because it doesn't sell your dress, it gives it away to a military bride planning their wedding (a big challenge when your fiance is serving far away). This charity has given away wedding gowns to 12,000  brides in events all over the country. What a cool way to say thank you. They only accept dresses five years old or younger, so stop wringing your hands and go for it already.

The Bridal Garden- If you are shopping or donating in the New York City area (looking at you, Kleinfeld shoppers), the Bridal Garden sells wedding dresses to benefit underserved children in the New York area. Give them your dress or start your shopping there instead of the big salons.

Brides for a Cause is a huge and very successful consignment salon that sells their dresses "for charity" It felt a little vague to me (ok, a cause, but which one?), but they do donate to Brides Across America right now, so you are still contributing to a very positive mission by donating your dress to them. I love it.

Brides for Haiti sells your dresses to raise money for Saint Joseph's Parish's charitable work in Haiti. Looks a little trickier in terms of shipping, but otherwise great!

The Brides Project in Toronto sells the donated dresses with the profits all going to cancer charities; this store has already put 600,000 dollars into cancer charities! That's awesome!

Success in Style is a Baltimore-based organization that gives out of work individuals wardrobes to help in their business lives. They have a consignment store to fund their mission, and now they accept wedding gowns for their wedding consignment store Cherie Amor.

Wish Upon a Wedding gifts weddings and vow renewals to men and women (regardless of sexual orientation, which I think is especially important) suffering from terminal illnesses. I am looking around, and I am not positive they still accept dresses, but if you can't donate your dress, you could still sell it and donate the proceeds.

I know I have a dress I bought on super clearance panic(like 70% off?) that has been sitting in a closet since 2012. I am offering it on Buy Nothing, but if there aren't any bites, it is moving on to one of these charities. I am not sure if I am ready to have my wedding dress see the same fate, but I am seriously thinking about it.

When you see all these things your dress can do, it seems like it is really underperforming in your closet, right? I know I struggle with the idea of parting with my dress, and I don't know if I will muster the courage or not, but the more dresses get multiple uses (and do all these wonderful things for people who need them) the better for everyone.

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3 Things I Love Today- Succulent Jelly Fish, 911 Day Organization, and Petey!!!

1. The wedding gift we got today- What will my life be like when we stop getting super cool wedding gifts!? These are not just jellyfish, they are jellyfish made of succulents- these are apparently very difficult to kill so double win! So beautiful!
2. The 911 Day Organization- A smart and positive way to hopefully channel people's memorial attitudes. I've noticed this year it is more a part of a conservative political rhetoric, as if somehow conservatives want ownership of the tragedy, and I feel this organization is a much more productive way to try to make this world a better place. At the very least, it is better than the patriotic Steelers logo that was floating around facebook today.

According to them:
"/11 Day is the international non-profit movement to observe September 11 every year as a day of charitable service and doing good deeds. We created this observance soon after 9/11 to provide a positive way to forever remember and pay tribute to the 9/11 victims, honor those that rose in service in response to the attacks, and remind people of the importance of working more closely together in peace to improve our world. Today millions participate annually by taking time out on 9/11 to help others in need, in their own way."
 

3. This child- Today is his 5th birthday, and he is the most hilarious, loving, sweetie of a child in child history. I cannot believe he is 5!

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Doing the Walk to End Alzheimers!

from act.alz.org/

Now that we have finished with all our wedding craziness, The Boy and I (and now my Mom who will be visiting!) are putting all our planning energy into participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer's in San Francisco on September 29th  at the Mission Creek Park. We have been talking about it for a while (we became aware of the walk doing research for our wedding), but we finally signed up this week, and I am really excited for it (even more so now that my mom is coming too)!

Nick and I are doing this in honor and memory of his Grandpa Shiley, who suffered from Alzheimers for many years . I wrote about his passing in early 2011, but we still think about he and Granny a lot, so I am excited to do something in his memory. Currently, more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease and that number is expected to grow to as many as 16 million by 2050. We have seen and experienced firsthand just how devastating this disease is to the person who has it and to their support system. The thought that it will continue to grow is so scary, and we want to help others facing the disease.

The Alzheimer's Association is the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research, and the funds we raise will go directly toward supporting their efforts. If you want more information on them, check here: http://www.alz.org/about_us_about_us_.asp I am honestly not sure why they are amping up their fundraising and public relations, but it seems to really be putting itself out there. This being said, it seems to me there is a lot of research and work to be done to effectively treat and manage Alzheimers, as well as trying to end it.

I am attaching the link here, so if you feel moved to donate you can. Or you can do the walk wherever you are, because they really have them everywhere! Here is the link:

http://act.alz.org/site/TR?px=6850550&pg=personal&fr_id=1556&et=HZH0PjUpAgjEPAjYqA7lrw&s_tafId=9523

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