The big question is will the Copenhagen conference support the concept of emission trading schemes in any real way – and will the participants put aside their vested self-interests to move realistically towards making our planet more eco friendly.

On top of that, will they go the extra distance and help poorer or developing countries become more ‘green’?  Somehow, I suspect that won’t happen in a significant way.  Tokenism seems to be the main action of the developed countries – more so with the biggest polluters.

In a way even emission trading schemes are a form of tokenism – it can be a bit like shifting the deckchairs on the Titanic.  I wonder if affordability would more real if the great powers just took a risk and re-directed a portion of their defence budgets for a year or two into the environment.  I can’t see it being much of a risk – there is no real threat of war between the major powers and, as for the ongoing war on terror, more and better planes subs, carriers, and missiles aren’t going to work – we already have enough super tech weaponry now.

How much are countries like the US, Australia, Russia, China and South America with vast land masses  really making any effort to move from fossil fuels to the more sustainable power sources  such as solar, wind or geo-thermal power?  Of course they may be more expensive – at the moment – but surely the more these ‘free’ and sustainable resources are built, then the cheaper they become. It seems a bit of a false economy to delay serious introduction of these power sources.  The technology is there.

I can understand undeveloped countries or small countries with little land mass to spare preferring to use the nuclear option, though I wish they wouldn’t – but, there is really no excuse for bigger and richer nations.

Wouldn’t it be great for our children and grandchildren to live in a world that is truly carbon reduced!

Recently, I have become really attracted to brands that have green product lines. I was searching the Burton site http://www.burton.com/ for a new ski hat for the season, and I noticed they have a Green Mountain Project. According to the website, the Green Mountain Project is “where each decision is considered with an eco-influence. some changes are big, some are small, but all are steps in the right decision.” Burton has boards, bindings, jackets, pants, boots, and even luggage… all designed and made with the environment in mind. They use earth-friendly materials and manufacturing processes whenever possible with all of the products for this line. My fav GMP women’s jacket Burton has right now is the GMP Bliss Down Jacket.

Working at an eco-friendly florist, I have really become aware of eco-friendly efforts put forth by other businesses. I would much rather give business to a company, store, or brand if they make efforts to help the environment. So, after seeing this about Burton, it led me to wonder what other ski and snowboard brands have product lines like this…

Liberty Skis

http://libertyskis.com/

So, Liberty Skis is cool for 3 BIG reasons. 1) they are made right here in Colorado 2) they make their skis from laminated bamboo and 3) the company runs on 100% wind power!

Arbor

http://www.arborcollective.com/

Arbor, like Liberty Skis, uses bamboo for its snowboards’ cores. The bases are made with left over poly-ethylene that would have gone to a landfill to sit for all eternity. Arbor apparel is also made with 100% organic or bamboo blends.

Nau

http://www.nau.com/

Nau is an “urban+outdoor” clothing company based in Portland, Oregon. They make sustainable apparel with sleek designs for the modern mobile life, all the while keeping the environment and ethics in mind. One element of their production levels is they decide to make many of their clothes in Asia because most of their fabrics are from there, and they want to “reduce the environmental risk of shipping” as much as possible. There are way to many cool things to type about this clothing company, so go check them out for yourselves!

I got this list from MrGreen.Biz blog. http://mrgreenbiz.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/eco-friendly-ski-and-snowboard-gear/. These are other ski and snowboard companies that are taking green steps on this posting. It is “an organization dedicated to the truth about our environment.” They post really interesting articles about a variety of topics that involve the world’s environment. Check them out too!

So, the next time all of you skiing enthusiasts like myself want to buy some new gear for your season, think twice about who you buy from. We mountain-lovers chose to live in them; let’s do everything we can to protect their beauty and ecosystems. Buying from these types of eco-friendly companies is a step in the right direction.

your fellow mountain-obsessed friend,
Sarah

Fruit-Tea Gift Basket

A Green Christmas

Going Green Gift Basket

Here are two gift ideas that will inspire “A Green Christmas.”

Filled with earth-friendly products and even a book on 365 Ways To Live Green, our Going Green gift basket is the perfect choice.

The Fruit-Tea gift basket is overflowing with fruits of the season in an all natural wood basket.  Red pears, Granny Smith Apples, Bosch Pears and other fruits,  Green Tea and Holiday Spice Tea too.

These gift baskets are not only good for the planet but are good for you too.  Adding more fruit to our daily diet provides us with a great source of valuable vitamins and nutrients.

Have A Green Christmas!

Baskets by Consuela is an online gift basket company featuring gifts for every occasion including Christmas, Kwanza and Valentine’s Day.  For other gift ideas visit http://www.basketsbyconsuela.com, http://giftbaskets.cartfly.com or http://www.flickr.com/photos/basketsbyconsuela/

]]> http://ecotrendstips.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/chicleteria-fibras-organicas-e-lavagens-naturais-no-verao/ Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:49:02 +0000 Fernanda Vasconcelos Torres http://ecotrendstips.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/chicleteria-fibras-organicas-e-lavagens-naturais-no-verao/ http://changebydoing.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/holiday-shopping/ Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:14:39 +0000 Andrew http://changebydoing.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/holiday-shopping/

SO here we are…Black Friday…the day you’re supposed to go out, fight through traffic and crowds, elbow your way to sale tables, and consume consume consume. And don’t get me wrong, finding wonderful, thoughtful gifts for loved ones is a beautiful thing.

My immediate family decided many years ago to stop buying winter holiday gifts for one another. There had been a few too many sweaters that got relegated to the back of the closet or housewares that were close to a design theme but not quite something any of us would pick for ourselves. Instead of shipping cross country boxes of almost good gifts or close but no cigar gadgets and gizmos, we began to give donations to our own favorite charities in one another’s name. We then send a simple card, letting the family know what good causes will benefit this year. Some have been consistent, giving to the same charities each year, and some of us mix it up each year, but since we are all lucky and blessed and have enough stuff, it actually seems more in-line with the spirit of the season to give to those who have greater need.

This may not be a solution for you, and that’s neither good nor bad, it is just a way to think about it all. My mom still sends along “stocking” stuffer gifts, and I feel good about sending my nephew things I think are funky or fun, but the excess is trimmed, and I like the way that feels.

However, if you have shopping to do, and most of us do, maybe there are some creative shopping options where a portion of your purchase price can go to a non-profit organization, or maybe you buy two of such-and-such a toy or game and donate one to a shelter or other program for needy kids, or drop off a bag of toys and food to an animal shelter while you’re out making merry…

I’ll also, as the next month wears on, occasionally suggest some shopping ideas I think bear considering—organizations that give back. For instance, Global Sistergoods, an online resource that “brings you the finest in fair trade, eco-friendly, and handmade gifts, jewelry, handbags, accessories, children’s clothing and toys, baskets, and home decor items. All of their fair trade products are made by women from around the world, and offer the high quality and one-of-a-kind feel that today’s socially responsible customer demands. Each fair trade product is as unique as the woman who makes it, and each purchase helps women throughout the world earn a living wage and build beautiful, thriving communities.” You can shop by country or by searching on category of gift, knowing that you are supporting local artisans and putting economic nourishment into developing communities.

Now THAT works.

‘Purepact organic range’

I absolutely love these products! The smell of the products is fantastic, especially the Lavender Conditioner which is like a mini spa in a bottle. I actually consider washing my hair now to be a real treat and feel like I am being transported to my very own spa in my bathroom!
I have quite dry hair and my hair feels so soft and shiny and the fragrance stays on my hair for the whole day. Just heavenly.
Since using the products I have had comments from two members of my family asking what I have done to my hair as it looked so great. I would definitely use these products again and have already started recommending them to my friends!

{This is Your Day to Shine!}

Available at my Etsy shop:
Magic Laboratory of Fashion
All designs are © Tatiana Agapcheva, please do not copy my work.

‘Relax enjoy life with Zest’
ZestStreet, the premier online retailer offering the full ‘PACT’ range of luxury hair care and beauty products, has opened!
This highly desirable and sought after range is now only ‘clicks’ away.
By innovatively blending the best quality ingredients with the latest technology, ‘PACT’ produces exclusive, high performance products that perfectly match your aspirations and lifestyle.
As specialists in all hair types and conditions, ZestStreet has the perfect product range for you. Our most popular brands include; Purepact – the wonderful organic and aromatherapy range; Hypact – for hydration and protection; Impact – the top luxury range designed using the latest L.I.N.C. technology and Sunpact – for fun-in-the-sun healthy hair. Not forgetting something for the guys Menspact – trendy and cool.
‘PACT’ has built a globally renowned reputation as an independent manufacturer of high quality hair care systems for professional hairdressers and top salons. ‘visit us at ZestStreet’

The team is proud to now offer you the opportunity to buy these environmentally friendly, eco beauty, natural haircare products directly. Our aim is to provide you with a luxury salon hair care experience in the comfort of your home.

‘Shopping just got easier with ZestStreet’.

i love french macarons very much, and a recent photo i took/styled inspired me to try my hands on making some felt macarons.  it was for this custom project that got me sitting down one late night/early morning and tried making my first piece.  i was utterly happy that it came out pretty yummy, so i started making a box of them as part of my custom.  though each macaron took 40-50mins to make, it was so much fun working on them (despite some bleeding from the careless needle-poking :p)!    the second photo below shows the macarons in green tea, strawberry, lavender, mocha, and lemon flavors.

recently, i was commissioned a custom order of my felt macarons by a bride-to-be as part of lovely things she included in the bridesmaids gift bags.  words can’t express how happy i am whenever someone enjoy and appreciate my little crafts/amateur art pieces. (thank you so much!!!  and i’m really honored to have contributed in a small way to your special day!!)

if you’re interested to commission me custom orders for these felt macarons, please contact me with the details (date you need them for, the occasion, any special flavors you prefer, quantity, etc.)  when enquiring, please bear in mind that i don’t use patterns, so every piece won’t be in the same size, that each macaron takes almost an hour to make, and that i’m not a full-time crafter.   thanks and have a wonderful weekend!  xoxo!

Last week, I encountered a situation that every college student has (or will) at one time or another: I accidentally signed up for a credit card. When the (sneaky) sales girl at Nordstrom asked if I’d like to sign up for a rewards card, I cheerfully yelped, “Sure!” I thought this card MUST be similar to my (now defunct) Blockbuster rewards card, which wasn’t actually used for purchasing, but gave me points to earn free popcorn instead.

I was wrong.

Miss Nordstrom had swindled me into signing up for the real deal. Luckily, I only charged a good $110 to my new card (that’s sarcasm), however, in an effort to ensure that I never get myself into this kind of debt debacle again, I decided to stick to buying from people who understand what it means to be a struggling artist (er, writer, whatevs). So, I turned to the online shopping portal Etsy – my favorite place to spend time (& cash) on the internet.

For those of you who have been living under a rock (or without an internet connection or penchant for online purchasing), here’s some quick Etsy 411:

“Etsy is a website that provides the general public with a way to buy and sell handmade items as well as vintage items and craft supplies.” (Thanks, Wikipedia!) Basically, the site is chock full of handmade/eccentric goodies – from vintage handbags to hand sewn dresses, created by regular people like you (or the craftier version of you). A lot of the designers on Etsy keep it eco-friendly, too, which def gets a thumbs up from me.

But, if you’re a first time Etsy-peruser, it can be a little intimidating. So I’m here to break it down for you & showcase five of my favorite E-fashionistas. I found five sites that not only offer swoon-worthy threads, but are safe for your wallet (or Mom’s Visa bill).

1) Every Little Counts . Okay, okay. Screen-printed tees are a dime a dozen. But I’m a sucker for romance, and I lurrve the creative sayings that adorn these breezy tees & tanks, like “Feel Like Making Love,” “A Violent, Sensual, Sensitive Girl” and “I can’t fight this feeling.” Adorbs.

2) Sandmaiden. Sandmaiden is a little pricey, but the designs are unique and are made from all-natural fibers. Plus the clothes are SO. UNBELIEVABLY.COMFORTABLE. Not kidding. Just check out these little beauties and imagine how wonderful that organic cotton jersey blend would feel draped over your achy bod the morning after a night of heavy drinking. Even better? You’ll be the only girl on campus with one, since most pieces on the site are one -of-a-kind designs.

3) Maiden Rapture Vintage Okay, the goods in this shop aren’t all handmade, but who doesn’t love vintage cardigans, dresses, blazers and accessories? This site makes it easy peezy to find the perfect unique piece from the 50’s, 60’s or 70’s to add to your wardrobe. I’m obsessed with blazers and plaid lately, and I found plenty in this shop. And the prices are totes affordable.

4) Sarah Seven Made from recycled vintage and natural fabrics, Sarah Seven concocts clothes worth coveting (and saving beer money for). The shop offers dresses, skirts and shirts in “vintage-inspired” designs with a modern spin. Each piece is custom designed (you provide your measurements and bra size), so you know you’re getting a perfectly unique, tailored fit every time. Even if you don’t snag yourself a darling dress, the site is totally worth checking out just for the awesome photography. I want to believe that Miss Sarah Seven herself is the girl in the nerdy (yet somehow chic) green glasses, but I think that’s just because I’m sitting here wearing my coke-bottle glasses & feeling lonely. Oh — and 5% of each purchase is donated to charities. Cool.

5) 75Rabbit For the patchouli-applying hippie that exists in every college student, enter 75Rabbit. With “far out” designs & duds made from recycled pre-used fabrics, what’s not to adore? The only catch: The shop lists only one page of items at the moment. But the prices are reasonable & where the hell else are you going to find a flattering and totally unique dress with John Lennon’s face on it?! Nowhere.

I’ve shared some of my faves – now it’s your turn! Where do you shop on Etsy?

<a href=”http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=81079&u=101841&m=12655&urllink=&afftrack=”>302designs</a>

302 Desgins features earth friendly and poetic tee shirts.  They carry a line of organic tee shirts for the artistic and uniques individual.

Day one of the great holiday shopping extravaganza.  In honor of Black Friday, today’s gift ideas are white, just kidding, but that would have been really funny…

Under $50

OK, can’t believe how hard it is to find cool design gifts under $50.  This is going to be a blast…nothing like a good challenge.  As my buddies from Smith College used to say, bargain shopping.

Single Cup Coffee Filter from Design Within Reach

At $34 this is oh so cool for the coffee lover on your list.  It makes just one cup, is eco-friendly and you can take it camping.  I can picture this single coffee cup on my husband’s desk at work (can’t say I picture him camping).  Shhh…don’t tell him.

Under $100

Black Patent Luggage from Pottery Barn

At $99.99 each, just squeaking under, the Black Patent Rolling Duffle and Garment Bag are so sleek for the ultra-mod girl on the go.  One hitch–when Pottery Barn marks down with 99 cents, it’s final sale and you need to be quick to purchase!

Sky’s the Limit

Black Spun Floor Lamp from Hive Modern

Who doesn’t dream of a lamp from Hive Modern?  I know I do.  This Floor Lamp for Flos can be yours for $1,740.  I envision it grounding a Family Room with bright accent colors.

Catch you tomorrow with more great design shopping!

Many feel that the supply of eco friendly products is low and those products are hard to come by. We as consumers can actually change this, by start buying more eco friendly product. The change in costumer behaviour would offset the supply and demand balance. When we buy a product we indirectly say: “Hey, this product is ok and I approve of the companies that manufacture the product and the way that they produce it!”

By dismissing non eco friendly products our suppliers have to change their behaviour and their products. They will notice that nobody is buying their products anymore and a huge increase in green products. They only got one this to do: ride the green train and become eco friendly. By changing our behaviour we change the big bad companies’ behaviour. It is consumers that are in control on the market.

But we make a sacrifice, don’t we? Yes, we have to pay more money for eco friendly products. So why should we? Well, first of it is of course better for the environment, no question there, but as we gradually consume more green products we expect to get something in return. We demand cheaper eco friendly products to consume. The eco friendly companies that do exist out there have an obligation to manufacture products at a reasonable price.

With the cheaper price and rising demand of eco friendly products there should be a dramatic change in what products that are available. This will lead to companies competing for the consumer’s money rather then the consumer competing for the companies products. There is only one way this situation is going to turn out and it is for the benefit of the consumer. The eco friendly products are going to be cheaper. I do believe that this is the goal we should struggle for in the relationship between consumer’s and producers. But it will require a lot of work from both parts.

If you can’t see the video, click here.

Next week: Antique Erotica.

(Lots of shops listed to the right will be happy to sell you porcelain figurines, oil lamps and little spoons while you wait for your doctor’s appointment.)

CHECK IT OUT AT DESIRAPESTA.COM

It’s official, Iggy has started teething.  Six weeks ago we were sure his pearly whites had started their descent from the gum line, but it was either a false alarm or they decided to scamper back to the safety of their home and plan a better orchestrated attack.  Well they’re back, ruthless and taking no prisoners.

The first sign was the drooling:

Simultaneous drooling while sleeping. He must get that from my side of the family.

Then he started poking his tongue out his mouth 90% of the time he was awake:

The red cheeks are a dead giveaway that bubs is teething.

Same tongue, different day

Then came the thumb sucking:

Little does he know his Mom sucked her thumb until she was at least 8 years old.

So we decided to give him a rusk to chew on:

Almost......

And....Touchdown!

For those of you not fluent in babyspeak, a rusk is defined as:

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Apparently this teething thing can last until bubs is 3 years old, so we’ve got a LONG way to go.  Until then, it looks as though we better arm ourselves with an arsenal of rusks, paracetamol, chew toys, drool bibs and ear plugs.

I have finally trained my brain to bring my own reusable bags when shopping. It only took about two years. Now that most grocery stores charge for bags, it is rare to see someone walk out the store with a cart full of plastic. Green thinkers and frugal shoppers are now on the same page. It’s a beautiful thing. 

Today I stood at the end of a long line at Loblaws. A woman at the front had full cart of groceries and forgot her bags. The cashier in a booming voice said, “Do you need to buy plastic?” The woman sheepishly whispered yes. I have been in her shoes feeling judgement ooze down the line.  Moments like that reinforce the need to bring my own bags… and why I own about 30+ of the suckers. Avoiding the dreaded plastic = no panic sweats and red flushes. (Oh…and it helps the planet.) It is not a good environmental story, but there is a bit of truth to that.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. throws away 100 billion plastic bags each year and less than 2% gets recycled.  Planet Green writes “The petroleum to make 14 plastic bags could drive a car 1 mile” and “Over 100,000 marine animals die every year because of plastic bags”.   Disturbing statistics.

It has always bothered me that I use plastic bags to buy loose produce like beans, mushrooms, and fruit. I discovered a store here in Ottawa called Nayla Natural Care that sells reusable produce bags and ordered a few to try. Turns out, they were an excellent purchase.

Steward Bags makes 100% organic cotton reusable produce bags in various sizes. Located in Cornwall Ontario, it is a growing Canadian company. Their strong mesh bags have an easy drawstring closure and are washable too. Steward Bags’ mission is to support fair trade labour, and help fund regional environmental projects.

You can find a retailer near you buy clicking here or order directly from the company. Ottawa residents can buy them this weekend at the Nayla Natural Care Open house Saturday Nov.28th from 10 am-2 pm. I will be going to pick up more to ‘wrap’ holiday gifts. (act surprised Mom) 

If you are concerned about reducing the amount of plastic in the landfills, I recommend trying this product.  Happy shopping!

GOLD and BLACK CUFFS/SPATS/NECKWARMERS Victorian Inspired

Available at my Etsy shop:
Magical Laboratory of Fashion
© COPYRIGHT NOTE: All of my designs, photos and descriptions are protected by copyright. They may not be duplicated, copied, reproduced and/or republished without permission or notice. All rights are reserved.

One of the more ridiculous ideas concerning global warming is Carbon Footprint. It basically measures a product’s greenhouse gas emission. While it may seem like a good idea, it actually propagates the wrong message to the point of misleading many people. Every consumer product requires certain amount of energy to be produced, transported and even to be displayed in stores. Hey those electricity and air conditioning surely don’t come cheap, do they? It is almost impossible to correctly measure a carbon footprint. A product that has a carbon footprint from its place of origin may even be exported to the whole world and this process itself will add more greenhouse gas emission.

So, basically what is the easiest way to reduce greenhouse gases? Disconnect yourself from the world. Hey what the heck? Isn’t it the other way around, connecting yourself more to the world, etc. No, I’m not kidding. Disconnect yourself from the modern world. We live in a world of abundance, full of everything we don’t actually need : tons of clothes, numerous electronic devices, extravagant food. This is not the natural way of life. But I’m not suggesting we all go back into the wild and live as savages. All I’m suggesting is to strike a balance between nature and the modern world.  Live a life according to our means, both financial and physical. For example, if you’re commuting alone, why buy a SUV? For simpler example, don’t keep your tap water running when you’re not needing it.

I once watched a lifestyle talk show on AXN. It basically advertises an upmarket restaurant in Singapore. The owner himself guarantee that everything on the menu is organic and eco-friendly, etc. What a load of BS. Apparently he thinks that all those imported foodstuffs are teleported to Singapore, all those fancy furnishing just pop out of nowhere from the anti-matter dimension, etc. If you want to save the world then eat as simple as possible. Eat your local food! It’s that simple. No hassle.

I am so happy that resusable food sacks are trendy right now. I love this design, perfect for your turkey sandwich on Friday.

http://abeego.etsy.com

Even given the fact that I really like the product, I almost like the story and product development even more.

CHICAGO (Reuters.com) – Every fall Americans rake up their leaves, stuff them into paper bags and kick them to the curb without ever thinking about the business opportunity they are throwing away.

Michael Dwork used to be one of those people, but that changed during a stint in India a few years ago while the 31-year-old was completing an MBA internship program. Dwork found himself marveling at the sight of the makeshift plates local peasant women were hand-crafting from fallen palm leaves, which they pressed in crude ovens along the side of the road.

“They looked absolutely horrible, covered in mold,” recalled Dwork. “I totally fell in love with them. There was no design, there was no sanitary production, there were no 50 other things, but at the end of the day, the concept was really cool.”

The natural process gave Dwork the idea to start VerTerra Dinnerware, an eco-friendly maker of compostable plates, bowls and serving dishes. Fast-forward to today and VerTerra (www.verterra.com) is a growing, Brooklyn, New York-based startup that produces a million pieces of disposable dinnerware in its India factory every month. The company supplies these products to wholesale customers, such as hotels and caterers, as well as food service operators, including those serving meals in the box seats at Cowboys Stadium and the U.S. food tent at the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

Taiwanese designer Colin Lin was tired of her ever-growing pile of old newspapers, so she decided to use them to create shoes and bags. Each pair of shoes takes about 3-4 hours to make and uses up three and a half pages of newsprint. Lin then attaches a cotton lining to the back and adds a plastic coating before she adds the finishing touches so that they can stand up to the weather and daily use.

Lin openly encourages other designers around the world to copy her idea, thus recycling many more newspapers. “I only contribute very little to recycling all the newspapers dumped everyday around the world,” she said. “But other footwear and bag manufacturers may want to copy my idea and so contribute their own share to dealing with the problem.”

One design of Lin’s newspaper shoes is available online at Moxsie.com for $110, sizes 6-10. However it is suggested that you order half a size up from your US shoe size.

Source: npr

Great Green Gifts

Christmas is on the way yet again, and the last thing many of us want to think about in this time of abundance is conservation.  But this holiday season, I want to get you dreaming of a green Christmas instead of a white one.  Okay, you can have both, but let’s face it, eco-friendly everything is the way of the future. 

Because a better lifestyle doesn’t sleep at night; it simply IS…

 And one of the biggest setbacks on our journey to a less-polluting, more earth-friendly lifestyle worldwide is the holiday season.  A time where tradition has taught us to throw out the old and replace it with the new—to give material goods even if they are neither needed or wanted. 

To add to this glaring issues, reams after reams after reams of wrapping paper, as well as ribbons, tape, boxes, and cards are used for half a morning and then tossed out, contributing  to a pollution problem that is already out of control.  

I don’t want to lay a guilt trip on you.  Christmas wishes deserve to come true, and in fact I would venture to say that the it can be a spirit of abundance that saves us from ourselves.  Not abundance of material goods, but abundance of love, human relationships, respect for the Earth, and the other “intangible” things that really matter in this experience we call life.  

This Christmas, make the effort to restore Earth’s former glory. 

Let’s talk about solutions, because solutions are a necessary point on which to focus our attention. 

The first thing you should know is that you can recycle most of the products and “trash” associated with the Christmas spirit.  Your wrapping paper and all the attachments that come with it should be recycled, not thrown out.  And that goes with all that packaging too—boxes, bags, etc…  

Even your Christmas tree is recyclable!  All of the old household items, clothes, tools, equipment, machines, and electronics that you are replacing this December with all the gifts you are about to receive–those shouldn’t be thrown out.  

Instead, they can be donated or sold.  Do you realize how many people go without on Christmas?  How many parents cannot even afford to give their children presents…Homeless children, children whose parents are incarcerated, and children of those who are just struggling to get by and cannot afford to dig any deeper in their pockets.    

And it isn’t just children who need or could use your “junk.”  Generosity should never have an age limit.  Instead, let it exist free of any limits.  Embrace that spirit of abundance we talked about before. 

In addition, if you are struggling yourself, you’d be surprised how much of that stuff you consider to be junk another person considers worthy of buying off of you.  

The point is that this Christmas, don’t let the trash bin sit closer to you than the friends and family who give holidays meaning.  Wrap your mind around the concept of going green to the best of your ability.  You can find plenty of ideas online to help you in your efforts to recycle and reuse. 

Which brings us to another thing you should consider this Christmas—there are plenty of eco-friendly products out there that would make great gifts, and the best of them are found online.  Pave the way for the future of business by not contributing to all of the businesses selling Earth-unfriendly products.  

Check out my website www.gogreenitems.com we  are very proud to offer products and items that will both satisfy you as a customer and lay Mother Earth’s worries to rest.  

From dog toys to reusable/recyclable handbags, from the eco button (which reminds you not to waste electricity when your computer is idle) to the voltaic solar backpack (which charges devices with the power of the sun), from the Cool N Save Air Conditioner Pre-Cooling System (a name that speaks for itself) to the countless organic and natural soaps, gels, and lotions, this website has something for everyone. 

You are not just reaching forward to the future when others are holding back.  You are not just saving yourself time, energy, and money in the long run.  And you are not just saving the environment.  

What you will embark on this Christmas is doing all of these things while at the same time turning one of the biggest holidays into a promotion of our planet’s wellbeing rather than another reason to waste.  

Because it’s time to give something more to each other than material goods that will be shoved into the back of the closet.  It’s time to give each other another inspiration and a shot at a quality existence on this planet.  

This year, I’m dreaming of a green Christmas.  Are you?

Visit www.gogreenitems.com for your best green holiday gifts!

Creator and owner of Sunny Bags Stefan Ponsold introduces their latest solar-power messenger bag, which includes a 3-Watt solar panel with a 1600mAh lithium battery pack that charges an internal during sunny or cloudy days. The bag comes in at a light weight of 3lbs. and features adapters for most Apple and mobile phones; plus USB compatibility. All netbook users can invest in the Business Pro model, which fits any 15.4″ laptop. Import a Sunny Bag for €165.83, knock yourself out with the calculations.