good & ugly

styled by Barbara Pelet

I’m eating out a lot this holiday season, and tossing the one-use containers I bring home doesn’t feel very festive. So I’m emulating my Aunt Betty, a grand lady who loved good restaurants, but who never left food on the table. I think the waste of good food, the effort that went into making it, and the fact that she wasn’t big on cooking played into the rumor that she always kept a bag for leftovers in her designer purse. I tucked a reusable container in my bag this week- no one even noticed when I scooped up the rest of my meals. It doesn’t make for a pretty photo, but this was the best of the lot!

sleep greener

photo by sylvie tittel

A tried and true way to save energy and money is to turn the thermostat down, especially at night. Ours drops to 62, which makes for great sleeping- even for the kids! (Our automatic thermostat has the house warm by the time we get up.) But slipping in and out of bed can be a chilly experience. Invest in flannel sheets to keep cozy. Stay enviro-friendly by choosing products certified by GOTS, which limits chemical use and includes social & environmental responsibility criteria, or OEKO-TEX, which certifies textiles are free from harmful chemicals and has similar social & environmental guarantees.

holiday greening

#greenerholidays, #ecotips, #greenChristmas, #inspiration, #motivation, #envirotips, #betterpresents, #presentspeopleuse, #enviroholidays, #ecoholidays
photo by ylanite koppens

I love having lots of presents to open for the holidays. But this year, I’m trying not to buy useless stuff.  So Dad gets a subscription he’d never get himself. Mother-in-law gets a jar of homemade thoughts-a-day for the year. One nephew gets video game $$$ (of course), a niece gets a gift certificate to her favorite salon, my kids will get movie ticket vouchers, and my goddaughter in Europe gets a YouTube video of me reading Christmas stories. Throw in a little recycled or recyclable gift wrap (except for the video), and I’m good to go!

water coming and going

photo by kirsten marie ebbesen

If you’re walking away from the kitchen or bathroom faucet or shower while the water is running, think again. For example, leaving the tap on while brushing your teeth uses around 8 gallons of water a day. In a year, that adds up to over 36 bathtubs of water down the drain. Remember, tap water is  cleaned and purified, which also uses resources and energy. Make a bigger impact by installing low-flow shower and faucet heads. It’s easier than you think!

knives, forks and spoons

photo by hue-12

The US uses about 40-100 billion plastic utensils a year. Instead of one-use, disposable cutlery, use your own utensils, whether at home or at work. Ditch the plastic forks with your take out as well. Yes, you will have to wash a fork or spoon, but it’s a lot less resource intensive than making and tossing a plastic one. It saves $$ for restaurants too, so share the love!

Corona Fit Packs: Smart stackable can solution does away with six-pack rings — Life & Soul Magazine

Mexican beer brand Corona has created a screwable, stackable can in an innovative approach to tackle the problem and impact of plastic waste on the environment. The new Fit Packs involve screwable, stackable cans with screw threads at the top and bottom of each can, allowing up to ten cans to be stacked on top of […]

Corona Fit Packs: Smart stackable can solution does away with six-pack rings — Life & Soul Magazine