Greening Halloween- Treats to Feel Good Handing Out

After mostly living way out in the country as a kid and in really cold apartment complexes as a young adult, I am still giddy excited when we have trick or treaters come to our house. Ecstatic. It is so cute to see them, and it makes me feel like we live in a real neighborhood (as opposed to the endless strip mall we lived in before).

This year, I was thinking about how we would manage trick or treating when I was hit with a lightning bolt of bougie environmentalist doom.

Halloween candy is super bad for the environment. Crap!

This happens for a number of reasons. The biggest is that candy "has" to be individually wrapped. I have spent some time thinking about this fact, and honestly, it is super depressing (we trust corporations and plastic covering more than we trust our neighbors... blech). All this individually wrapped candy creates so much plastic waste. Think about just how many candy wrappers must land in the garbage this week. It's a bummer.

Also problematic, these candy companies are often shipping their candy shockingly long distances to take advantage of cheap labor. Hershey's makes a lot of their chocolates  (including Reese's and Kitkats- try the Boyer's peanut butter cups) in Mexico now. Nestle makes their pure evil candy bars (crunch, 100 grand, etc) outside of the US as well.

I have reached the point where I just won't give these companies my money. Screw those guys, especially Nestle, because they are essentially cartoon villians. That being said, I just can't be the parent on the block that hands out toothbrushes or apples or something. I have children, and I just cannot bear to embarrass them that much.

So what is a person to do if they want to do something a little more environmentally-responsible but don't want to hand out something the kids will want to give back?

I have figured out some solutions, if only so I can go get candy without feeling crippling guilt. Honestly, none of these are perfect. If your first priority is the environment, you should probably make the treat yourself, but that only works if you know all the kids that will stop by.

But just because there isn't a perfect solution doesn't mean we all couldn't do a little bit better. All candy is not made equal, and if the company is flippant or even problematic, you can bet they also use sketchy practices in what is actually in the food (you can look at palm oil and preservatives as obvious signals of a company's values). All the choices may seem bad, but some are definitely better than others. Let's get started.

I have 13 options to hand out this year. I'll try to organize them by easiest to the most time-consuming. Because it's a few days before Halloween, let's not pretend you have time to search for the perfect candy.

Snickers (or variety bags with Snickers in them)- If you are picking something up at Target or your regular grocery store (which is how most of us do it), pick the Mars bag over the other mixes. Snickers and the rest are still made in New Jersey. You may not cut down on packaging, but at least your candy has only moved a short distance. Probably the easiest option for last minute shoppers (avoid the other chocolate bags! Trust me)
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Alright, i have taken some solid criticism about this choice and want to make sure to include it. Ill start by saying i pointed out in earlier in the post that none of these choices are perfect, but they do generally raise fewer problems as you go down the list and get to less easy to find stuff. At the same time, i wanted to point to the even slightly better options in a regular aisle, because most of us aren't going out of our way for halloween andy.

 mars chocolate, like most mainstream chocolate, is not fair trade. the enviromental and more importantly labor costs f chocolate that isn't fair trade is extremely steep, potentially ncluding child labor and slave labor. not good- if this is really important to you, check out unreal candy and bug bites (the other two chocolate choices on this list). they are both fair trade. also, check with your local chocolate shops, they can probably speak very specifically o where their coco or cacao beans come  from.

The other charge against mars is that they participated in animal testing. this was revealed back in 2007, and it was reported on until 2009. no one talks about it now, but that doesn't mean it isn't going on. if that is important to you, this may not be your pick.

So yes, mars is a mixed bag, and you may be better off picking up dum dums or blow pops, but if chocolate bags are your last minute option, i would till go with snickers over the others.

Dum Dums- This was the winner in our house this year. They are a reasonable size, and at least half of their packaging is paper and biodegradable. Plus, these little lollipops are made in the United States. Bad side, they do have chemicals in them for coloring.

M and M's- Also made by Mars, and also made in the USA. My mom's favorite, so if she comes trick or treating at your house...

Tootsie Pops, Tootsie Rolls, and Blow Pops- I am not a tootsie pop girl, but blow pops were the business when we were kids. Candy and gum in one. The packaging is not great (minus the lollipop stick, which will at least biodegrade), but they are made in the US, so

Cow Tales- They don't have especially Halloween-themed packaging, but I have never turned down candy on that account. Made in the USA.

Jelly Belly Jellybeans- Made in the US, can get individually wrapped bunch in many Halloween sections. Jelly beans are gross, but if they are your deal, no judgement for liking the grossest stuff.

Annie's Fruit Tape- Has better ingredients for the kids, is made in the US, and still comes in individual packaging so no one suspects you are a murderer.

Stickers or temporary tattoos- My son absolutely loses his mind for stickers right now. Stickers and temporary tattoos keep you out of the plastic covered candy territory without landing in toothbrush land. Still not a perfect solution, but you can find recycled stickers and domestically-made temporary tattoos. You can find cool temporary tattoos on Etsy too.

Go local! Does your local candy company make something individually wrapped? It doesn't have to be fancy or overblown, but every state in the US has at least one brand of chocolate all their own (off the top of my head, Western Seattle has 5). Stores like Daffins will have individually wrapped chocolates that will be delicious. Are they slightly smaller? No big deal! You are doing good, and the kids probably won't care in the end. Take this opportunity to check out a local candy shop.

Unreal Candy- Unlike almost anything else mentioned, these candies are fair-trade and at least actively trying to think about the environment. You can find them at some targets and whole foods, but check out their website if you want to learn more about them.

Yummy Earth Lollipops- They sell organic lollipops made in America. We have had them in the house, and honestly, they were pretty good. I don't know that the packaging is any better then anything else in that way.

Milk Chocolate Bug Bites- These fair trade chocolates, the mini version of endangered species chocolates. The chocolates are partnered with the Xerces society, so the proceeds go towards the conservation of endangered bug species. Plus, they come with bug trading cards. I love them.

Make Something- Popcorn Balls, Caramel Apples, Fudge. Unwrapped treats may be verboten, bu it might be worth trying where you live if you know most of the  people!

Enjoy your trick or treaters and I hope this helps the last minute shoppers like me! If you want more shopping inspiration, Check the Giant Lists of Shopping Lists!

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Don't Buy Babyfood Pouches, Instead Try...

from babyrecs

"We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors. We borrow it from our children."

When you are in the thick of parenting a baby or toddler, the last thing you can even imagine, much less plan for, is their future as adults. I know I have plenty of moments where I am just trying to get through the day. The years may go fast, but the days are a long string of chaos.

For that reason, lots of parenting shortcuts exist- tv shows to keep them occupied for a minute, a bumbo to keep them immobile, and pre-made baby food so you can feed them quickly. These things can be counted on to come with some kind of judgement call- we are all supposed to be constantly present, never need a minute to answer a phone call or pee or be a human being. Current "expert" opinion turns against anything that might make life a bit easier. I'm no expert, but I think all of those things make sense, and in the right moment, they are a lifesaver. 

That being said, there is one mommy shortcut that really burns my toast. I don't understand why people go out of their way to talk crap on Daniel Tiger but this nonsense goes unnoticed. 

The Babyfood Pouch. 

Now, these one time use pouches look innocuous enough, and they are perfect for a diaper bag, right? 

False, my friend, and they have to go. 

We may save a minute or two of our time by giving these to our kids rather than taking the time to serve them with a spoon, but they are bad for our kids now and even worse for their future.

Baby pouches are relatively new, started by Plum Organics this decade and immediately catching on. They took off almost immediately because we as parents are always on the run and what a great solution! Babies and toddlers could eat on the road or out of their chair. You can keep them in purses, etc. But soon after they took off, writing on the pouch began to question them. Even the New York Times was questioning some of Plum Organics' claims.

Why are they bad for them now?

First, there is solid evidence that the pouches are bad for teeth and teeth development if they go on too long (and right now it seems that the crutch lasts a long time- well into toddlerhood). It also creates long term sugar exposure to their teeth and could cause decay. All in all, bad news for teeth.

Second, in this phase of life, a baby isn't just eating for nutrition, they also are learning skills and building habits that develop into healthy eating habits in children. In other words, you are setting a stage, and they need to be starting to work on moving the food around in their mouth and chewing, so if you are still giving them apple mush in a pouch when they should be eating chewy apples, those skills might be stymied. 

My experience as a mom (to the world's least picky eater, so grain of salt this), is that the best way to encourage a variety of eating is to make your own food with flavor or to mix spices or herbs into the jars. You can't do that with pouches.Our bub eats what we eat, first as a puree and now about 40-50% of every piece of food we consume (more if I really want to eat it).. I know this won't work for everybody, but it might be worth giving a try, and the pouches serve as a stumbling block instead of a help.

Third, eating can be a meaningful and fun social interaction between you and your kid, and even if that doesn't play out every time, just handing off a pouch and sending them on their way cuts off that time at the table for building family culture and social bonds that are consistently heralded as crazy important. That whole "eat dinner as a family" thing starts now, and when you have the time to do it, it's probably worth it.

Fourth, you spend all this money on food for your baby that is organic, nutritious, and usually has some allusion to nature in the title. Then, you have stuffed it into a carrier jumping with chemicals. The truth is, they still don't understand all of the things leeching out of plastic food containers, and in some of the cases where they have tried to eliminate dangerous chemicals like BPA, the substitutes have turned out to be just as bad. In other word, wha!?!?!? No matter how many plants or suns are on the label, that pouch could be causing actual damage to your child's system or hormones. They just don't know enough, but there is good reason to be suspicious that your wholesome food is being covered in chemical nastiness.

PLEASE someone explain to me how this is any easier. What the hell.

Lastly (and maybe the most important point I have ever made), I have watched people squeeze those things on to spoons too many times. How is squeezing onto a tiny spoon easier than just spooning it out? Mysteries of the universe. 

Even worse than teeth, taste, chemicals, and family time is the effect these pouches will have on your little one's future. 

In fact, these plastic bags of purees have a downright awful environmental impact. One of the worst of anything in your kitchen right now.

The pouches are mostly one time use plastic waste, just like plastic bags, plastic straws, and plastic water bottles. This means that after your child's 2 minute snack, they will linger in the soil or water long after you are gone. Plastics are set to outnumber fish in the oceans by 2050, so well within your baby's adulthood. Your child will not be able to safely eat fish or go to the ocean without running into mountains of debris.

The only part of these pouches that are recyclable are the lids, so that whole pouch is absolutely garbage waiting to happen. I heard a mom try to justify these pouches as "creating less waste" but that is the opposite of the truth. These pouches are designed to be polluting our land and water.

But they are tiny right? This may not seem like such a big deal, but imagine if you weren't allowed to throw those suckers away, you had to keep them in your house. Now how long before they fill the space up? Now multiply that by all the moms you know.

This is a huge and completely avoidable problem. 

Baby food pouches perhaps burn my toast the most because they were basically non-existent ten years ago, and now they are treated as indispensible. I have had more than one girlfriend claim this is the only way they can get their baby (or toddler) to eat veggies and fruit. If you are one of those moms, I still love you and think that you are a kickass mom, but that is crazy talk. Don't feel trapped by the pouch. 

Trust me, no matter how many suns, leaves, or other symbols of earthiness are on the package, whoever made that pouch does not care about the environment or your kid. They care about making money only, so it is up to you to change the momentum and show baby food companies that such unethical (and expensive) packaging is unattractive, unecessary, and not getting your money. It may feel like swimming against the mainstream current (because it is), but you can do it.

Here's how: 

1. Give your baby something fresh- Sure, a pouch with apple might be healthy, but you know what is healthier? An apple. It doesn't have anything in it to keep it "fresh" and it comes in it's own biodegradable container. Shop the outside of the grocery store, and check out that managers' shelf for deals that will still make perfectly good baked apples or applesauce.

from Amazon

2. Reusable Pouches- THIS. You can control the content of the food better and you will create so much less waste. Sometimes you will still be on the go, but with good planning you can make your own puree or just put baby food from a jar into it. If you use the same pouch even 5 times, that's 4 fewer pouches in your child's water later. Plus, you will save a ton of money- when you pay for pouches, you are paying for the plastic. Try Squooshi, Nature's Little Squeeze, or a silicon pouch from Squeezy Gear. Nourish with Style is an amazing Etsy store to check out too.

from Abi and Sue

3. Put your food in another container- Once you hit that toddler phase, a handful of raisins or blueberries in a snack pack can be just the ticket. Etsy has tons of options in all sorts of styles. Re-play Snack Stacks are my absolute favorite- convenient, easy to clean, made in America, and recycled! Kids Konserve also sells a set we use all the time. There are so many easy options for this- garbage packaging is not needed!

I know with picky eaters this can be especially tricky, but consider trying juices with veggies or things toddlers can dip (why do they love dipping so much?) as a transition out of the pouch. This isn't about only eating nuts in the woods, it's about finding other solutions that make sense, and even if it isn't perfect, almost anything beats one time use plastic.

You can do this! Even if you need the pouches, you can take a reusable option and make your child's world that much cleaner and happier for the future. I get it, sometimes you need the shortcuts to just survive, but I am just saying this might be a battle worth picking and save the pouches for emergencies.

Want more ideas for how to green your regular shopping habits? I got you! Check out my massive list of shopping lists and ideas!

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Five Favorite Etsy Stores- Halloween Accessories

I want to keep highlighting amazing makers in the US, and I feel like my Etsy links can get caught in the more mainstream shuffle. So starting a series to focus on the greatest stuff we have found. 

from Danielle V Green

Danielle V Green (New Jersey) makes brooches of cats in Halloween costumes like David Bowie, Bettie Page, Frida Kahlo, or the Little Mermaid. It sounds convoluted, and yet, when you look at them, the genius is clear from the get go. If you aren't necessarily a costume type of person but want to honor the sense of play that comes with Halloween, this is a great option. Also, if anyone is ever struggling to buy me a Christmas gift... If you love the pin idea but the cats aren't doing it for you, try Sayonara Baby, which has wonderfully disturbing Beetlejuice pins.

from Marty Magic

Marty Magic (Santa Cruz, CA) sells earrings and ear cuffs, many of which might be fun for Halloween. I love these bat cuffs the most, because they are both fun and a little bit creepy. I haven't seen them before, and getting things this memorable and unique is a big perk of Etsy.

from Callie Jewelry

Callie Jewelry (California) doesn't exclusively sell Halloween stuff, but I do love the subtlety of this skull ring. Great if you like your accessories to whisper about mortality. But not scream death, because that is just too much. It actually reminds me of the Goonies, so you know it's good.

from Delicate Industry

Delicate Industry (Sacramento, CA) sells these hilarious, unique, and completely creepy skeleton profile jewelry. These earrings look like something from a haunted mansion or out of a movie in the best way possible.

from Horribell

Horribell (Bethlehem, PA) wins my heart on sheer commitment. I feel like these work for awesome Halloween jewelry OR if you go to a heavy metal concert. I just think they look tough and and cool.You could be a soccer mom and show up to the game with a black t-shirt,jeans, and these earrings, and no one else is going to fight with you.

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6 Things for Today and Yesterday- Kamik Boots, Swanson's Nursery, Gump, and Trump Book Reports

from Kamik

1. Kamik- We live in Seattle, so you know we need some rain boots for everyone in this house. I tried and tried to find rain boots used, and I just never tracked down ones we liked that were in the right size. It hurt, because I almost exclusively buy our kids' shoes used.

At first, it looked like we weren't going to find anything ethically or locally made, so thank goodness for Kamik. This company is family owned for over a hundred years, and most of their boots are made in Canada (or maybe the US). They take the ethics and sustainability of their boots very seriously. They make their boots with partially recycled materials, and they have zero-waste targets for their manufacturing.

And they cost the same as most of what's out there. Check Amazon. Same price range as the made in China unsustainable boots.

 My favorite part is that they offer a recycling program; you can send them your boots back once you are done with them, and they will recycle them into new boots. Come on. Dream solution to the wet feet problem. The designs could probably be simpler for toddlers, but their adult options are really chic and simple (for rubber boots). If you are thinking about buying rain boots, hunting boots, or winter boots, check them out.

2. Swanson's Nursery- We are lucky to live in a city where there are seemingly endless places to take kids or things to do. We already love Swanson's for outfitting our garden, but they actually have pretty cute (and free) seasonal stuff. On Tuesday, we met friends for the cutest miniature hay maze there. So cute. The toddlers were most impressed by the fish in their cafe, which really reminded me that sometimes exploring is the most fun for them (also, splashing the fish and getting slightly soaked).

3. Visits with Gump- My dad is here! I am in a house with a lot of boys, but everyone seems so happy. He went with the Boy and the Bub to pre-school today, and it seems like he had a great time. It's fun to have visitors come and see little pieces of our life here in Seattle, and he is such a huge help for us to get on our feet before the Boy heads back to work. At the very least, it has created the window for The Boy to make a lot of freezer meals.

4.  Maasai Necklaces- One of my new favorite projects for my art classes, these necklaces are just acrylic or tempera paint on paper plates. It's a perfect way to use the paper plates in your cupboard!

5.Trump Book Reports- Specifically, Trump Book Reports at 2-3 AM while I sit in the dark breastfeeding and eating pears. Hopefully the giggles create a positive snacking environment for the Baby Bear, and he doesn't internalize that I am a crazy person this early in life. But come on. That business is funny.

6. Schwartz Brothers Blueberry Scones- A highlight of my day, for sure, was sitting in a community college cafeteria cleaning out my email and eating their blueberry scone. A+ Washington treat. Like a thousand calories. But sometimes, when you have been up all night guffawing boobs out, you just need a treat.

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Throwback Thursday- Greening Halloween: Made in America and Recycled Halloween Decorations

I love holiday decorations. If I waste money on something, it is probably some sort of sparkly holiday-themed creature or lights. I love holiday lights. If I won the lottery, our house would be lit up for each day in a different theme. Our dining room frightened my mother on Skype today, because a small army of cats guard our table. I am not working in hyperbole here- themes just make life better.

So, now that I try to slow down our consumption as a family and buy ethical, green, and made in America stuff, I feel genuine sadness that I cannot go to Michael's and splurge on this junk. I love this junk. I don't want our house to look scary, I want it to feel fun and festive. And unabashedly cheesy.

But if my sparkly cats were made of cheap, wasteful plastic by someone who was treated badly, and then it had to travel thousands of miles using a bunch of fuel and resources, can they still be pure joy?  Because right now, they fucking bum me out. I am not sure the cats can just be fun anymore (I mean, I still love mine, but the army won't expand any time soon), but I feel like my holiday closet can continue to grow until it has to be a holiday room. You can make lots of things, so we will be trying some of our own in the next few weeks. I also love Etsy, because some stuff is adorable and some is wonderfully bizarre.

So, in case you are like me, and can't let go of kitsch while you let go of all this crappiness that comes with it, I have started looking for Halloween decorations I can still buy. Here are a few gems!

Dorky Art- You can find basically any art on Etsy. If you want Victorian silhouettes of skeletons, they have that (from Murfreesboro, Tennessee no less!) You can also get something much more subtle like this print. They have candy corn family blocks (less kidnappy than the car stickers). Hanging candy corn (this reminds me I haven't had any yet- horrible oversight) I love this wood skull garland as well. Or you can get this bat banner from Erie, PA!

from Trendy Wall Designs

Stickers and Clings- You can either buy window stickers like you are rocking an elementary school classroom or you can get all kinds of cool silhouette wall stickers on Etsy. We had bats on our previous walls, and they were pretty high impact for like 17 dollars (not sure if you can find reusablew ones though- how do you feel about year-round wall spiders?). This witch would look amazing near your stairs.

from abbeynekola

Pillow Covers- This is a relatively cheap, high impact choice that can suit lots of styles from bravely tacky to pinterest ready (white walls, wood, and slightly industrial? haven't seen that before)! You can have this chic baby one, or this awesome Mr and Mrs Frankenstein ones (that I may have bought by the time you read this). I love this simple "trick or treat" one and this spiderweb pillow.

from shopgeezlouise

Candles- I bought a beeswax skull made here in Seattle as my own Halloween decoration this year (because when you have a baby, it's time to add more fire). It is really freaking cool and made in Seattle. So be cool like me and buy some Halloween candles- here's some skulls from Indiana, a Damien Hirst number, creepy melting hand, or a random owl in a pumpkin.

from whimsy workshop

Pumpkins- Anything with a pumpkin motif can come out in September and last until Christmas decorations go up, so you get more bang for your buck.  Rustic wood ones seem to work well for all purposes, and these ones from GFT Woodworks is made of reclaimed wood! Recycle Reuse! I love this mosaic pumpkin- so pretty and it could read just a teensy bit spooky (in a good way). Fishsticks sells little ceramic jack o lanterns. You can get burlap pumpkins as well. If you want pumpkin decor, you have about a million options; search "pumpkin" on home and garden on etsy, and you get 50,000 finds. You can find exactly what you want Made in America!

from Lovebug Handmade

Wreaths- You can make a pretty classy statement with a wreath. My cousin just made fall wreaths that look absolutely amazing- we can do it too! If making wreaths isn't your jam, you can buy a pretty jack o lantern one or a simple berry wreath. I actually love this simple Boo one, or you could get the fancier one.

from Fuzziggles

Something that Doubles as a Toy- Oy, children. They really must touch everything. Rather than fight the battle all the time, you are better off to find things that also work perfectly well as toys to decorate with (and things that hang way way up). I LOVE these fuzzies by Fuzzigles. So genius and so adorable, while still being on theme as well. A candy corn worm? How have we celebrated Halloween without it? I am also obsessed with these little felt mummies, but the skeletons might be the most impressive thing I've seen all day.

Candy Holder- You don't want to be that sad person who hands out their candy from a bag (oh, you do? That probably works then). If you do want to put it in something, this is pretty cute and made in the USA! If you don't want a candy holder, you can get some on point booze holders like these ones from Mary Elizabeth Arts.

As a side note, I also really like these Halloween temporary tattoos as a candy alternative, for people who hate children. I will never be granola enough to not love candy. It's delicious, people have to deal with it. But the temporary tattoos are cute.

from Be There in Five

I also love these doormats from Be There in Five- they even give microloans to low income women starting new businesses (and their less seasonal mats are also awesome), so this seems like a great place to spend your decoration budget!

So there you have it- TONS of decoration options for the season that are made in America. I just have to stop shopping at Michael's and spend even more time on Etsy. It's a big sacrifice, but I think I can handle it.

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4th Trimester Update- 6 Weeks, Sweet Freedom!

How Far Along- 6 Weeks- we made it!

My Weight-  Down a little more. The diet is in full swing, and everyone is appropriately cranky. There are good reasons not to take treats away at the same time you take all sleep away. But we are pushing through, and at some point I will be glad. Now, I am hungry.

Baby Cuteness Rating- Getting chubbier, which is the key to all baby cuteness. I also think he is making eye contact with me more, and I swear he is smiling at me. Also, singing me lullabies. And quoting Frederick Jameson. And solving complex economic problems. I might be a little tired.

You Breastfed Where?- In a pumpkin patch, but it was in a gazebo at a picnic table... barely an accomplishment.

I also breastfed while taking an eye exam. It felt pretty badass, but it also made me appreciate our eye doctor (who is a mom, too, so she understands the dilema of a screaming baby vs a boob out).

And I am Feeling- So hungry. But otherwise, good! Still haven't had to do whole days 2 on 1, so we will see how I fare when we get there, but I am mostly happy, just starting to really feel the effects of the tired. Also, I miss chocolate. Also, noticing that I am getting very behind on life- I need to plan a birthday party, prep for visitors, a whole host of things. But right now I am absolutely living in the present, because that is most of what I can handle.

Most Bizarro Quirk of the Week- Feeling normalish? That 6 week mark is no joke, and even though I know I am a total zombie, I do feel more healed and more like myself than I have in a long time (damn baby brain got me this time). Happy to be able to sit and lift and ride down a slide holding my monster toddler.

Best Moment of the Week- Tonight, I got out of the shower, fed The Baby Bear, and he puked most of it back up. Into my hair. Which hadn't even dried from the shower yet. That has to be some kind of mom record.

Favorite Tool in my Arsenal- Noodle and Boo 2 in 1 wash. makes our kids smell so good. It's tough enough to work on our stinky toddler and gentle enough for our newborn. Plus, it is made in America! One bottle will last at lezst a year with a little one, so even if it seems more expensive than some more mainstream brands, it's a good investment.

And We are Watching- Really bad reality tv. Steampunk'd, some quiz show... The dregs of Netflix, but we may be too tired for something that requires attention or a soul.

And the Boy?- Dreading the end of paternity leave, but otherwise holding up against the lack of sleep. Making a lifetime of freezer meals this week as the simple weeks are quickly coming to an end.

Looking Forward To- My dad is coming! Excited for The Baby Bear to meet his Gump. Should be a really great week. 

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Wedding Wednesday- Unique and Eco-Friendly Wedding Invites and Other Paper Goods

from Alison Kate Design in Missouri

I have strayed away from this topic before, because it seems like one of the more obvious choices for greening your wedding- if you care about the environment, you have probably thought about this. On the other hand, I know I thought that recycled invitations all have a very specific look. Like a mason jar wrapped in burlap, but in paper form. Like maybe some granola will fall out of the envelope.

What is surprising is that you can get recycled paper invitations in ANY style. No matter what kind of scene you want to set, you can do it on recycled paper.

Once you know recycled paper invites (and other wedding paper goods- save the dates, thank you cards, etc.) can come in as mainstream, traditional, quirky, indie, or whatever else style you want, it opens up the opportunity to do something good on the sly. You can find anything you need without one tree falling down, and in that way, your wedding is doing some real good.

Here are some of the best options I found for Eco-Friendly wedding invitations that can be as unique or mainstream as you want them to be. Even if this isn't something you ever considered, be sure to take a look, because your wedding is a step into your future, and we all want a future with clear air.

Let's do this!

 Forever Fiances

This ridiculously cool save the date and wedding invitation company gives you two eco-friendly options for your invites.First, you can buy plantable invitations! These are made of recycled paper with plants inbedded inside of them, so your guests can go plant them after the fact. If that feels a little too heavy-handed for your style, they have recycled paper options as well (they call them "new tree free- I love that!). I actually like the plantable designs better than the recycled ones, but there are so many options and you can probably find something that works for your plans.

This is so unique and cool, and I think it sets the stage for a great wedding, whether you want to foreground your eco-friendly choices or let the day be about something else. Their prices are almost identical to shops like Wedding Paper Divas, so you won't be breaking the bank, AND you will be saving trees and even starting new ones! Either way, incredibly exciting. Why don't all companies work this way?

Jealous you can't get married again to use this company? Me too! They also sell personalized business cards, invitations, and other stationary, so check them out.

Your Local Invitation Maker (this includes you)

Lots of communities and cities have local options for calligraphers. It may be easier to get something online, but be sure to look around and see what is available near you, because dealing with an actual person can be more satisfying. You are supporting a local business, cutting down your weddings carbon footprint, and you can get exactly what you want.

If you are particularly talented in this area (and you have a good chunk of time), you could totally make your invites yourself! It would be a special and memorable way to go about it, you could pick recycled paper and soy inks, and you will probably save oodles of money to spend elsewhere. You can find eco-friendly papers at lots of these stores, like Green Field Paper Co.

 If doing the invites sounds like a lot, you can also consider how to use those skills or that beautiful penmanship elsewhere in the events; make the menu (maybe do one standing card per table or a large sign to cut down on paper), make seating charts or placecards or your programs. Paper comes in so many places, and anywhere you can consolidate or do it yourself, you can save money and save trees.

If you are going local, which is awesome, be sure to ask them about recycled paper and soy-based inks. Part of the perk of dealing with a smaller company is that you can talk to them face to face and hopefully work out something that is perfect! This is a cool way to support your community and to help the environment.

Minted

We bought our save the dates from this company, and they looked beautiful and used recycled paper and envelopes. One of the best things about this company is that they have a wide variety of designs coming from many different American designers, so you know your cards will have a style that matches you perfectly. This company always stays just a little bit ahead of trends, and their cards seem cool without trying too hard. They have almost a thousand options, and you can order most with recycled paper for 15-35 dollars extra (pretty affordable). I love them, and I think they are a great option.

Bloomin

Bloomin also sells plantable wedding invites, save the dates, thank you's, seating cards. Basically the whole shebang. I love how broad their paper supplies are, And their designs are mostly simple and timeless (especially considering the whole thing will be buried in the dirt in no time). Waste free and really special, this might still be a great option for one of your other wedding paper needs outside of the invites themselves.

In fact, my favorite might be "Growfetti" which would be a perfect substitute for bubbles (that come in little plastic containers), confetti, or rice. Just make sure it is alright at the place where you are getting married! A church lawn might not be the place, but a country wedding in a big field, it might be just fine.

Green Field Paper

This store sells recycled paper, seeded/ plantable paper, and even paper made of hemp. Before you stick your nose up, be sure to check it out, because they have so many options you might actually find the perfect thing. They don't have a ton of options, and I am not in love with all of them, but some are great and might be just your style. Plus, you can choose which paper your design comes on, so you get to prioritize what matters most to you.

As a side note, this company also sells Christmas cards, including ones made out of 100% junk mail. God bless this company, because that is genius.

Zazzle 

Recycled wedding invitations are becoming common enough now that lots of more mainstream companies like zazzle offer a recycled paper option. Another great option to look through if you aren't finding what you are imagining!

Twisted Limb

This company is on the opposite end of the Zazzle spectrum. They make handmade recycled paper that is stitched into invitations. As someone who has handmade paper before, I can tell you a heck of a lot of time and love went into these beauties. You couldn't get something more precious and special unless you made it yourself. To be totally honest, I am not sure invitations need to be such precious objects; we have kept some wedding invites but they aren't particularly treasured. But if you are having a very small wedding, it might make a really cool splurge.

Wedding Websites

Ok, I am not suggesting you only use an e-invitation unless that suits you (or you are having a pretty informal or tech-savvy wedding), but skipping the rsvp and having people rsvp online is a super efficient and cost effective (see also- free!) way to help the environment. If you send 100 invitations, just skipping the RSVP saves 100 pieces of paper and 100 envelopes. If you skip the whole invite, that is even more. If you are going that route, you can always do something simple like The Knot or wedding Jojo, or if you have the skills, pick something more open-ended, you techie you.

Arbor Day Foundation

Maybe you can't get your invites in these cards, but you could get your thank you cards there! It would be a simple way to have your wedding do some good- every card you buy will pay for a tree. So if you send 50 thank you cards, you also plant 50 trees. That's pretty amazing when you consider how many trees come down a year for wedding invitations.

Etsy

 We all knew I was going to end on this note, but do you know how many gorgeous invitation options you can find there? You can find one made in America (shorter trip, less fossil fuels, lower carbon footprint) and on recycled paper. We bought our invites on Etsy from someone in our state. We loved them so much, and because we were dealing with a real person,  I could just write her and we worked out tablenumbers too!You can also get printables and pick your own recycled cardstock. Here are a few to lust over, but your best bet is to write in "recycled wedding invitations and get to browsing. These are my favorites:

from Cricket Printing

from AMG Design Co

from Casey Snyder Design

from vohandmade

from Eco Weddigs by Cc

This is the tip of the iceberg- be sure to explore the links. I know when I was shopping, I looked for the perfect style that perfectly matched our colors and style and theme, etc etc. I did it, but I still wish I had prioritized differently. You can find that thing that is exactly what you want aesthetically, but we are asking you to This blog is suggesting that if you narrow the field to be "new tree free," you will end up something that may not be "perfect," but you will love it just as much, and you can feel really good about it.

Want more unique and Earth-friendly wedding inspiration?  Check out my Giant List of Shopping Lists!

If you like this post, please share it! This blog is all about making small changes. The more people who make these small shifts, the better the Earth will be!

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