Five Favorite Etsy Stores- The Stockings were Hung

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. 

This week, the blog is going to be all about stockings and stocking stuffers. The stocking, when done right, is really the best part of Christmas morning, and if we are cutting our regular gifts down to one or two, then the majority of our items will actually be in the stocking. Can you make a totally eco-friendly stocking? Oh yeah! But let's start with some fun ideas for the sock first. 

Allenbrite Studio (Iowa). When we first got married, The Boy and I bought two of these adorable stockings for our house. Now we use the amazing ones his mother made us and our kids, but I still have a serious soft spot for this store and their stockings. These stockings aren't gigantic either, which makes them perfect for more thoughtful and minimalist gifting.  Also, they do all sorts of dogs, so check them out if you want a pet stocking. 

Eugenie2 (Florida) makes these lovely knit stockings that would be great if you have chic and kitschy taste at once. Like a classy Christmas sweater made into a stocking. If you have the knitting skills, you can find patterns too.

Handmade Pretties (Iowa) make quilted stockings that remind me of the ones my Grammy made us as kids. So I am in love with them. Even more eco-friendly are these upcycled quilted stockings from Groovy Goods 4 U. If you can quilt and want to do it yourself, you can find all sorts of patterns on Etsy as well.

Pink Slip Inspiration (San Diego) makes the most sophisticated stockings I have seen anywhere. Pretty girly, but I think in a good way. Angie and Lois and Westin House Design sell gorgeous and sophisticated stockings as well.

Three Schatze (Illinois) makes modern stockings with fun and quirky prints. The prints are very on trend, so just make sure you pick things that really fit so you can get lots of years of use.

Want even more eco-friendly and local shopping inspiration? Check out my Giant List of Ethical and Eco-Friendly Shopping Lists. 

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Green Christmas- Mommy of Toddlers Wishlist

This is the newest in a long series of blogs where I implore you through long lists of cute stuff to buy less/better stuff! This Christmas, we will spend a lot of money on gifts. A lot. If we put all that money toward companies that respect their laborers and protect the environment, we can change the world. Every dollar we spend is a vote for the world we want to live in, so every time we buy Made in China junk at a big chain store, we say fast and easy is more important than good. That our selfish wants are more important than other's needs. I don't think that's what anyone really thinks, especially at Christmas, but I think it can feel like we don't have any choice. We do! So here is another shopping list to show that no matter what a person cares about, you can find them awesome, eco-friendly and socially-responsible gifts. We can do it!

My friend Mindy is an amazing mom to two toddler girls (the picture is old, but it is one of my favorites of her). She is also an amazing lifelong friend, who wrote me a Christmas list last year, which I am only finishing my research on now. Let the universe know, I am the flaky one. Still, I think most of what she asked for would still apply (though she may not be doing as much working out lately). I think her list reminds me that when your house is filled with toddlers, so much of what you want is not stuff. I think her ideas are genuinely some of the best I have seen writing these blogs, so I can't wait to share them with you.

Maid- I think Mindy meant it as a joke (she wrote "can I say that?!?"), but can I say, this is a KICKASS Christmas gift for the mom you know and love. No, I am not suggesting a longterm situation, but one afternoon of deep cleaning by a professional would probably cost around 100 dollars, and it could help keep everyone afloat. One gift card for a cleaning person for that cost (or even part of it) seems like one of the best gift ideas ever.

100 dollars is still steep, but you could get it  for the couple or for the whole family and then it isn't quite as bad. It's the kind of thing that seems to practical/ not fun to gift, but you know what is super fun? Having a clean house and not being exhausted because of it. If you are trying to be eco-friendly, you could look for someone who specializes in that, but the last thing a toddler's mom needs is more stuff to clean up.

Seriously, A+ gift.

Fit Bit Charger- Sadly, this one is not going to be easy to find used and impossible to find American-made, BUT you could still ask your Buy Nothing group, because people are tiring of fit bits, so they may have things to give away by now. A couple have gone up on mine.

from babywearing

Babywearing Jacket- Mindy is a genuinely spectacular baby-wearer (that girl has skills). If you are gifting for someone who is more of a novice, I recommend Solly Baby, or check out the list (Mindy helped me write) on the Green and American-Made Baby Registry.

My favorite I saw was this fleece jacket from Babywearing on Etsy, though Mindy is really looking for something both front and back). I want to point to them because they look really cozy and chic, plus they are made in Toronto! Wrap your Baby has a lot of options to find what you like best, as does Fun 2 Be Mum, but they are based out of Poland, so not local to most of us.

As a side note, I also think the babywearing extenders like this one from Extenderher would be great, because it just gives more use to the coat you already have.

Tao Industry from Amazon

French Press- Alright, the good news about a french press is that it is already an eco-friendly gift in comparison to Keurig's (please, friends don't buy friends Keurigs. Maybe the reusable cups, but that's it). The bad news is that most are made in China or Taiwan (a pretty long trip) with no good information on the ethics of their labor. But don't despair! I did find one from Tao Industry that is made in America. I also found two glass French Press companies- Bodum and Grosche that are at least partially made in Europe. Not clear.

Workout Clothes- Holy crap, there are TONS of American-made workout clothes! If I actually excercised, I would have gotten this good news long ago! The bad news is you are dealing with synthetic fibers, which is basically wearing plastic, so that makes it all the more important to buy things that will last (or are used- you'd be surprised what you can find). Better to buy one well-made piece than 5 that won't make it to next Christmas. Here is a big long list to start, but there are so many, so look around if you don't see what you want- Nux Active, WOD Gear, Yogasmoga, evolve's Made in USA filter, Beyond Yoga, Greater than Sports, and Fabletics.

Yoga Mat- So many choices, there is no reason to not get something eco-friendly. My yoga experience is all prego-related, when I could get out of Downward Dog judgement-free. I don't know anything about yoga gear, so I am purely looking for good reviews, eco-friendly materials, and domestic manufacturing (to cut down on fossil fuel use). My favorite is Hugger Mugger Yoga Mat. You can also check out Jade Harmony or Manduka, Modcloth is selling a really cute one this year too.

from USA Pan on Amazon

Cookware Set- A whole set could be very expensive to buy in an ethical or Made in America set, so I might buy a pot, pan, or two (that will last this toddler momma a lot longer than a huge set at the same price) and fill out the collection over a number of years. If you want to get someone a pan that will last them forever (cutting down on waste), look at All-Clad. These pots and pans not cheap, but they are made in America, built to last, and absolutely beloved.

Want something a little more affordable? USA Pan offers a number of great sets of pans or you can gift each thing individually to fill in the blanks in your collection.Check their website- it's cheaper.  American Kitchen also sells each individually on their website. From what I can tell, Calphalon's nonstick pans are made in Toledo, Ohion, but their regular pans are made in China, so just keep them in the nonstick section.  Farberware also has a line of Earth Pans, which seems to be a great idea, but has some execution issues. 360 Cookware also makes saute pans.

Day at the Spa- Another great option if you don't want to add to the mass of stuff in a loved ones house. I have a toddler, and let me tell you, those minimalists have a point. More stuff just means more to clean.

If you are gifting a massage or spa kind of gal, a gift certificate makes an amazing gift. An offer to watch her kid while she goes makes it even better. Sometimes the best gift you can give someone is a break.

A Few More Ideas

I have a few ideas to add to her list that might spark the perfect idea for you while you shop. Might be great!

An Instacart or Meal Gift Card- On the same wavelength as a cleaning lady or day at the spa, a parent with toddlers may be really happy to get a meal delivered every once in a while. A gift card to their favorite pizza place or take out restaurant might be awesome. Also good? Money toward instacart (if they live somewhere with that as an option) because a break from the grocery store might be cool too.

Gift cards for Pictures or Picture Books- Most people take a lot more pictures once they have kids in the house (I think I may take less- my hands are never free!). In the age of cell phones, it can be easy to never use those photos for anything, but I know most of us will wish we could look at pictures of our kiddos once they grow up. One of my friends makes a photobook with all of her instagram posts. You can always do it on Shutterfly, or you can get a gift card for somewhere cooler like Blurb or Artifact Uprising.

Colonial Mills from Amazon

Toy Storage- Not fun, not glamorous, but certainly helpful. You need to know the momma well enough to know what she needs, but I know I am always looking for storage that is not horrible to look at. You might be able to get them a bookshelf or some other wood shelving at your local consignment store for cheaper than you can buy a dress. I know I have been lusting over baskets to contain the toys, specifically Colonial Mills baskets that are made in America and look beautiful. You could also look into benches or ottomans with storage. But storage is beloved, at least at my house.

If you are still feeling shoppy, check out my big honking list of lists for more shopping ideas!

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52 Weeks of Positivity- Buy Nothing Groups and Why You Need One

Well, that just happened.

I know some Americans are overjoyed, some are ambivalent, and many are ready to just stop talking about it already. Right now, if we are being totally honest here, I feel pretty negative about everything. I came from small town America. I love my small town, and lots of people in it, but it is hard not to feel like fear and negativity won out. At the very least, the nasty antagonism and divisiveness that characterized the campaign has continued.

Ok, enough ranting. I am committing to spending this person's presidency absolutely fighting this negativity with honesty and positivity. I am not going to politely say nothing when someone is being unkind and selfish, I am not going to stand by as this president strips so many of their rights, and you all know I have a lot of fight in me about the environment. My goal right now is to do something positive, community-building (or preserving), and intentional everyday. Maybe I can't change the world everyday, but I am talking about more than opening doors or smiling more.

Who wants to join me? Share your ideas about how we as individuals and groups can make this country better, rather than hoping the government will do it for us,

This week, I am all about my Buy Nothing Group.

One of the things we can all agree on, conservative to super progressive, is that the economy isn't working and there has to be a change. This is our common ground, and it is somewhere to start. A lot of that change may come from regulation and government leadership, but a lot of that change could come from us as consumers. We are in an economy that treats as much more valuable as consumers than producers. If we change our values and habits around how we get what we need, we could start to positively effect our local and national economies on our own.

It is now clear just how much families are panicking about jobs and getting by, and I think this solution could make a huge difference in individual lives and in communities that have been abandoned by the companies they once supported (like my hometown).

Loyal readers know how obsessed I am with the Buy Nothing Project. This project is only a few years old, but it works as a vast network of Facebook groups; each one encompasses a town or neighborhood. Members of each group can offer gifts to one another or ask for things when they need them. Everything is freely given, the group is lead by a local volunteer, and no one is making any money off of this.

At first glance, you might think this sounds a lot like any other place where you donate, but these groups are really special:

-They create opportunities to meet your neighbors. I have met so many moms with babies because of this group. I know at least 4 more families within 2 blocks of our house because of it. This group is completely apolitical, so you can just chat about the minutiae of daily life and other common ground. When we moved here, we were totally alone, now I wave to neighbors as we go for walks. It's not all due to Buy Nothing, but it helps a lot.

I love my group because I always have generosity and gratitude throughout my newsfeed. Every day I wake up and people are being kind to each other. It feeds my optimism for the universe.

- They minimize waste. We have a baby swing, which we love madly for about 3 months. Then it's done. In the year and a half between my two children, three other babies used that swing, so three fewer swings will be littering our beautiful landscape with barely used trash.

It can also keep things you can't donate from going to waste, We have gifted weed killer. I have seen others gift their milk before going on vacation.  Nail polish gets passed around. It's amazing what you might have that is exactly what someone else needs,

beautiful dining room table. it cost us 15 dollars to rent the van to come get it. 

-Lastly, and so important for our common ground right now, it saves you money. So. Much. Money. In two years, we have received 2 major pieces of furniture (a table and a crib) from group members. We have been gifted toys, shoes, clothes, books, and other things. If I had to guess, we have saved at least two thousand dollars in 2 years.

Why is this important? So many of us feel like we are barely surviving or getting by. By just helping each other, we can save money, and then when it is time to shop, we can stop giving our money to the lowest price and instead by quality items that support American labor. Bemoaning the lack of American jobs? Opportunities in your area? Buy Made in America products and buy them from local businesses. Yes, it's more expensive, but if you are mixing in Buy Nothing items, it can come out the same. No more cheap crap from Walmart, because it is hurting your community and pushing out the businesses we need to survive.

In other words, if we want change, we have to make changes ourselves, and Buy Nothing creates an opportunity to reconsider what we buy, where we buy it from, and why. Those questions are important, and they are shaping our local economies constantly whether we are aware of it or not. Buy Nothing creates a space to step out of the constant cycle of acquisition. The big bonus is that it also strengthens community bonds and prevents so much garbage and waste. If you have never thought about this project, or it seems like too much work, let me tell you, it isn't.

We aren't alone in this, and if you need the proof, ask me and I will let you browse my Buy Nothing from my account.

So, Buy Nothing is awesome. What does this have to do with your new aggressively cheery mission?

I have two missions around Buy Nothing- 

1. Encourage the people in my own Buy Nothing. Without mention of the election, this morning I offered all the leftover cookies from our stress binging. Not only am I saving us from oodles of calories, I am sending comfort food out to my neighbors. I want to keep at this and use this resource to inject positivity into my immediate world.

2. Get YOU to join a group (or start one)- Get on their site and look for your neighborhood. Request to join with your address, and you will be addictively checking what's going on in no time.

Don't have one yet? Start it. I'm looking at you, Franklin readers. If it feels intimidating, send me a message and I will help you figure it out. It's not as tough as it sounds, just make sure to ask a friend to do it with you to split the excitement early on.

If you are in one that is just starting, ask your friends to join. Do it if you live in a city, suburb, small town, or troll mountain.

Is this a small step? Maybe, but I think it could make a world of difference, especially in small towns that may not need to meet people, but could use clear avenues of support. Nobody has to be alone when they need a little help for food or outfitting a new space. That little bit of wiggle room creates the opportunity to redistribute how we spend our money, so we can invest in our communities and each other instead of settling to get by.

Companies will do what makes them money; if you don't send the message that doing the right thing is profitable or popular, they will always slip around reform to make more money. Buy Nothing Groups create the opportunity to send companies a message and to make your communities stronger. 

Interested in what this blog is all about? It is a (mostly, sort of) apolitical blog that encourages American of every walk of life to make some little changes (many of which will save you money) to make our lives, our country and our Earth a better place. If you want to know more about it, or about me, check here. If you want oodles of eco-friedly shopping ideas, check out my Mega List of Shopping Lists.

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Five Favorite Etsy Stores- Christmas Ornaments

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 Fancy Face Studios

I love Christmas ornaments. We don't buy anything big when we go on trips, but we always bring home an ornament for our tree. I love receiving and giving them as gifts, because it can be thoughtful, special, and packed away for a good chunk of the year (rather than adding to the clutter). Etsy has a seemingly endless supply of cool ornaments that would make great gifts. These are some of my favorites.

Naya Studio (Colorado) uses reclaimed wood to make these sweet little Christmas trees.

Cardboard Safari (Virginia) mostly sells cardboard animal busts but their christmas pinecones out of recycled cardboard are beautiful. One of my favorite Christmas ornaments anywhere.

Drops of Color Shop (Texas) makes the cutest mobiles, but they put their felty genius to use for Christmas ornaments. So sweet and bright, we have made our own felt ornaments, but these are way better.

Schemata (New York) has gorgeous glass ornaments that look so special and colorful. These glass balls were actually one of my first Etsy purchases (the beginning of an addiction for sure).They remind me of maps of a planet I have never been to. I thought they made great gifts, so maybe you will too.

Ornaments 4 Charity (Nebraska) makes lego ornaments, which you can find plenty of on Etsy. What makes these so special is that they are the product of one family, and 100% of the proceeds go to helping women and children in domestic violence centers. The whole family does the work together just to help others around Christmas. How awesome is that!?


Want more links to awesome ornaments? Can do! 2 Chicks and a Basket, Tuscany Creative, Pegasus Parchments, Smiling Tree Toys, Just 4 Christmas, Reclaim the Shed, Nestled Pine Woodworks, Taco Explosions, A Heirloom, MC Wonderland, Little Celandine, artcrafthome,

Want even more eco-friendly and local shopping inspiration? Check out my Giant List of Ethical and Eco-Friendly Shopping Lists. 

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Green Christmas 2016: Let's Do This!

Yes, it is early to talk about Christmas.

No, I am not a person with their tree up already.

But this is a blog about living more, buying less, and spending our money on things that do some good. All of those concerns will loom large the next few months. Plus, etsy purchases can take time.

So, let's do this.

We as Christians love to bemoan the ways the Christmas message has been lost, and I can't help but agree. It has become about catching the biggest sale (ugh Black Friday- leave Thanksgiving alone!) and the visual affirmation of success through abundance. We want to see those piles under the tree, but why?

I know I love to see a mountain of presents under the tree- gifting is my love language, and I can't help but send the message "HOLY CRAP I LOVE YOU SO FREAKING MUCH" this time of year. I think that big pile can also tell people that they are doing ok, that they are providing, that their kids are happy, etc. When life gets hard, it can be a signal things can still be good. But as much as I get the instinct to celebrate this way, the way I see Christmas gifting is radically changing.

Our gifting mirrors the gifts of the Magi, but on a deeper level, it mirrors the gift God gave the Earth- his son! He did the ultimate good for the world by giving this gift, and I truly believe we should try to model our gift giving after this. Instead of looking for a deal or making sure each child has an equal pile of goodies, could we ask "How will this gift do good?"

A gift that does good changes the criteria from which we make our choices- it's no longer "will he like it?" or "will this be enough?" or "can I find this cheaper?"

Shopping to do good means paying attention to how the object was made- "was the person who made it treated with respect?" It can also refer to how it was sold- "does buying this help my community?" It could be about the environment- "Does this gift create more waste for landfills or use a ton of energy getting here?" By paying attention to these issues, we shift our gifting paradigm, and we can make a profound difference in this world and in our families.

Consumerism in America is out of control. In 2012, they estimated an average American spends 846 dollars on gifts for Christmas. That's a ton of money! This means, Christmas is one of the most important times to think about making a positive difference with your shopping. People have too much stuff already, and it takes away from our lives. It also destroys our landscape. Our gifts create landfill waste and use tons of fossil fuels. Committing to buying less but better, less plastic, practical, and more local gifts can change the world. Especially if we all make this change.

Your shopping can do good if you think about it this way- 

We often hear cliched statements about how Christmas isn't about gifts or spending, but that is honestly easier said than done. This blog aims to give some actual strategies about how to make Christmas great without so much stuff.

Buy Less. Don't buy 3 cheap gifts. Buy 1 good one. Don't get stuck with that picture of the tree in your head, and spend money on non-physical gifts like gift cards for dinner out or tickets for a cool experience. Make something yourself.

Buy Used. Fight the stigma against used items. You can find an amazing pair of boots or kitchen items at a steal just by starting at consignment shops first. Check you Buy Nothing Project. Look for toys or items that use post-consumer recycled materials.

Buy Local, Buy American. Support your community and your country by shopping at locally-owned stores instead of Walmart and Made in America items instead of things made elsewhere.

Is local and American more expensive? Yep. But if you buy fewer gifts and fill in the blanks with used items, it can add up to about the same. You are just spending your money in a different way.

This is a huge commitment, but you can break it into sizes that don't overwhelm.

I am not suggesting you have to do this for every gift (even though it would be cool if you did). Make a plan, make a list, and figure out which things you can do this for. You can even think about how to change what you ask for when people ask. This is all about baby steps, and if you think about it at all, then that is pretty damn awesome.

You could try making part of your gift this year. Or just start your shopping at local businesses and thrift stores. You could rethink what you really need and will ask for yourself. Every Christmas season, we shell out oodles of money to buy gifts for all our loved ones. If we all did commit 100 dollars to local businesses, or things manufactured in America, or recycled/ used gifts, we could make a HUGE difference!

So the blog in November and December is all about inspiring a new approach to Christmas shopping. One where we can finally accept it really is the thought that counts, not the money spent.

Most importantly, this is totally doable. I am going to post more friends and family wishlists (throwbacks from last year and new ones- people send me your lists!), so you can see that you can get almost anything recycled or Made in America. I am going to post ideas of how to wrap in a more eco-friendly way (how can we wrap creatively to make the wrapping part of the gift?), and even more stocking stuffers Made in America (therefore, using so much less fossil fuel!). I am going to research Christmas pajamas and where you can get local, American-made candy all over this country. I have some awesome Etsy lists for you (I do love some Etsy).

Now, I know my Dad is pulling his hair out at the thought of me writing these Christmas lists through 2 months (he hates the skip over Thanksgiving), but hear me out. I cannot in good conscience encourage last minute Etsy shopping, because that is a fool's game. When you are buying things from people, not giant corporate machines, sometimes part of what you are investing in is a slower  process. It does not mean that you should let consumerism take over your season starting today, and PLEASE save the Christmas music until after Thanksgiving!

I am also really into the idea of giving as a family tradition, so look out for Advent giving plans and ideas of where and what to donate this Christmas (some of the big organizations, like Operation Christmas Child, have major problems, but that doesn't mean they all do).

So, join me in setting some new goals this Christmas- if you care about stewardship and you want to make your Christmas about more than sales at the mall, resolve to only buy things Made in America or fair-trade.

If you care about the environment, think about how you can create less waste this season! There are so many great ideas out there.

The amazing thing is, if you care about one of these things, you will make a positive change for all of them. If a company cares about these things, not just about making the most money possible, they often attend to other ways to do good as well. Putting your money there sends mainstream companies the message that if they want your money, they have to do better too, which is a pretty awesome message for us to send (over and over).

You don't have to make it impossible for yourself, just join me in trying to do better this Christmas. And let me know about what you are finding, what you are looking for, and what purchases you are most excited about!

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Eco-Friendly Christmas Cards

the card is from etsy and the picture is from the amazing and talented Jenny GG

At this moment in the year, we start shopping for our Christmas card. Many of us send each other Christmas cards to wish friends peace and joy, to celebrate the holidays, and to show off their family in totally not posed pictures of family togetherness. I can joke, but I am as guilty as anyone of sending these cards and being so happy to receive them. It is equally nice to be wished happiness and to see how happy people I care about are. Christmas cards may be cheesy, but they are also awesome.

Even better, if you are trying to have a more eco-friendly holiday season, then the Christmas cards create a pretty obvious opportunity to make some positive changes! This is an opportunity to save trees, that keep our Earth cooler, our air cleaner, and our view prettier.

Think about how many trees must go down for all that holiday cheer in the mail- probably more worth it than the trees that come down for toilet paper. But if you can celebrate the holidays by being a steward and preserving God's creation, why wouldn't you do it? If the holiday really isn't about consumerism, we need to approach it with the spirit of stewardship first.

I know I as a Christian think even more about my role as a steward this time of year- how can I approach giving gifts in a way that pleases God? If giving gifts to each other is a symbolic repetition of God giving us the gift of his son, how can we do it in a way that takes care of his creation? Those questions resonate even when the gift is as small as a card.\

If you want to be a good steward this Christmas, recycled cards make so much sense. You can save trees from being cut down while still sending your love to others. The answer here is simple, though it might cost you more money.

The good news? Recycled card options are EVERYWHERE, they just may not be where you would look first. Skip Shutterfly and Tiny Prints. Tiny prints weirdly comes up when you search for eco-friendly Christmas cards, but they aren't, so that is an infuriating scam. They don't use any recycled paper as far as I can see. That being said, so many other places do.

Let's do this, people! Enough of these virgin tree shenanigans:

Green Field Paper Co

Green Field Paper Co is now my first stop for paper good browsing. Not only do they have great designs, they also feature more types of eco-friendly statonary than anyone. When you see just how many creative and eenviromentaly responsible options are out there, it's hard not to question why all paper companies don't try this route.My favorite- cards specifically made out of recycled junk mail! That is genius. All the other cars need to step it up. They also have plantable cards, ornaments, and gift cards (these are made of recycled paper and have seeds in them- bonus, they are all made in San Diego). Seriously, look here before you buy a box of cards anywhere else.

Paper Culture

Paper Culture is another gem- a perfect first stop if you want a cheesy/wonderful photo card (don't be ashamed; I love them too). Paper Culture recognizes their carbon footprint, and they try to offset it by using 100% post-consumer paper for their cards and by planting a tree for every order they sell. The Arbor Day Foundation does it for every card (so significantly more depending on your order), but these cards gave a little more design to them and have photocard options, so they may better fit your vision. Their designs vary from bright and busy to minimalist and chic, so you are sure to find something you like. Plus, they don't cost any more than those photo cards from Tiny Prints. How did we not all know about this before?!

Minted

 I have a lot of loyalty for Minted cards; we got our save the dates and birth announcements from them, and their cards always look great and modern. They are pretty comparably priced to Tiny Prints, just a little more expensive, but they offer 100% recycled paper for 15 dollars more. To me, that's worth it, and I will just buy fewer cards to cover the cost.

 Arbor Day Foundation

The Arbor Day Foundation sells 100% recycled "Give a Tree" paper cards as a fundraiser. Every card you buy puts money towards planting trees, so not only are you preventing more trees from coming down, you are also helping plant more! I love this idea so much, though I can't really say that the designs are anything to get excited about (some designer- volunteer your time). Definitely less stylish, but think, if you did this every year at Christmas, how many trees you could help plant in a lifetime. What a sweet addition to your holiday traditions.

Etsy

We all knew I was going to say it- you still have time to buy your cards from etsy, so you can start with this search to find eco-friendly options on there as well.

A Few Other Thoughts to Keep Things Eco-Friendly (No matter where you buy)

Skip the Foil- Foil pressed cards are really pretty, and they are super popular right now. Skip them. You can't recycle them and they won't biodegrade.

Buy Less- Pick a smaller than regular number to send and just don't send them to those people on the list that feel like a stretch. It can make a big difference to just cut down your numbers to the people you really care about.

Above all, Save the Trees- With so many recycled paper options out there, it really doesn't make sense to send a card on virgin tree paper.

That's it! Christmas is kicked off and I will have a ton of ideas for how to make tiny changes to your Christmas plans that will have a big impact on the Earth. Have specific questions? Let me know and we will try to address them. In the meantime, check out the Christmas lists from last year on The Giant List of Shopping Lists.

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4th Trimester Update- 8 Weeks and it is Getting Interesting...

How Far Along- 8 weeks! Moving right along.

My Weight-  About the same. Definitely we are past the point where weight just coming off is long forgotten. Started exercising again, and I have been trying to eat right, but trying is the operative word.

Baby Cuteness Rating- So cute! I usually think babies at this age are in the awkward puberty of infancy, because they are more crazy-eyed than cute. I look back on The Bub, and he was not super cute yet. But this baby is so darn smiley and cute already. Motherly love talking? Maybe. But you can't fight with baby rolls.

You Breastfed Where?- A fancy restaurant? While dressed as a Pokemon? Life is full of so many possibilities when it comes to whipping out your boobs.

And I am Feeling- Scared. This is the first week where I am really on my own- all the grandparents and paternity leave cushion has run out. I did my first day of two bubs today, and we survived. That seems like a solid start to me. It will get better, but first it will suck, and I am not excited to be in the suckiness phase.

Most Bizarro Quirk of the Week- Apparently my hormones think my baby is blind, because I have saucers on my chest. Maybe they were like this before, and I was too busy with other things to notice. But wow, body, we get it, you can nipple. Let's turn the volume down on that now.

Best Moment of the Week- We are running on empty, and it feels like we are surviving moment to moment. We thought we were completely out of The Bub's diapers, and we were debating who was headed back to the store. It just felt like adulthood was back to ruin an already iffy day.

Then, like a gift from heaven, a UPS-driving angel dropped off the Bub's box of diapers a day early. I may have danced with the box through the living room. These are not the days where you get a lot of wins, but man, a diaper subscription, two chocolate chip cookies, and a documentary about the Shining may have just saved house morale. 

Having my cousin visit this weekend was also amazing. We had trick or treating, and having her there made the whole thing more fun and less stressful (because adults again outnumbered babies). I am so lucky to have her as a friend and cousin- is there anything better in the world than having someone love your kids? Plus, I really like having a full house of people. 

Favorite Tool in my Arsenal- Reusable Nursing Pads (I have these ones from Love Your Reusables on Etsy). Why did disposable nursing pads even become a thing? These are easy to throw in the laundry, and I have saved so much money (and prevented waste!) by going this route. If you are a new mommy, consider it!

And We are Watching- Nothing interesting. I mostly watch food shows at night, but I have actually been avoiding it to try to keep the Baby Bear sleeping. I have been working on Shutterfly projects on a dim computer. My goal is to have an awesome playlist for November so we mostly use music to fill the house.

And the Boy?- Back to work and I think in total fear I will have a break down from the challenge of getting everyone enough sleep. I am hoping he will be pleasantly surprised. I miss having him around all the time though.

Looking Forward To- Getting everyone back on schedule! 2 months of upheaval since we had a "normal," so I am looking forward to having a "normal" again. Plus, we have more visitors coming this weekend! Excited to spend the weekend with the Boy's brother and sister-in-law. So fun, and it is always happy to introduce our baby to his family. 

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