holiday gift suggestion, day 6

For those who don’t know, a big focus of mine is getting people off plastic. A major reason for this is the presence of Bisphenol-A, which, if you don’t, click on the category (to the right) and read up on it. I think that a major step in reducing plastic is getting a reusable water bottle. And, this weekend I learned of another one.

ECOUSABLE

I went to the EcoGift Festival this weekend and happened upon this booth. First off, really great group of people behind this product; knowledgeable, friendly, and very passionate about what they do. I found this bottle unique for a handful of reasons. They are made with stainless steel, they are made locally (to Los Angeles, anyway), and they have a great twist off top. But the COOLEST part of this bottle is the brand new filtration system that is coming out very soon.

Built into the top, is a filter that purifies 65 components out of the water. This means that you can fill your bottle with tap water, and not have to worry about anything. I know that many people lean towards bottled water because they fear contaminants. This is a product that allows you to feel confident in a move away from plastic, because it handles the purification for you.

I think that everyone needs a reusable water bottle. Not only does it help the environment, but it helps you and your health. I know that this product is on my stocking stuffer list for a handful of people, and I hope that it gets onto yours.

The filtration product, I think, comes out this week. Either way, you should get a bottle. You can get more information from their website, HERE.

treehugger

This is the time of year where thousands, maybe millions, of trees get cut down to celebrate. And, for what reason, most people don’t even know.

The Christmas Tree tradition started in Germany. Because of its shape, it was a symbol of the holy trinity; father, son, holy ghost. It became revered as God’s Tree. The tradition became fashionable after Queen Victoria, in 1846, took a photo with her family by a decorated tree. From that point on, the decorations of the tree became more important than the symbol of the tree, itself.

It is a shame that these trees are raised to be killed for folly. Many of them are filled with pesticides. And, in killing them, the ecosystems, even in Christmas tree farms, that have formed around them are destroyed.

This year, at least in California, it would be great to consider this:

THE LIVING CHRISTMAS COMPANY

It’s simple! You select the type and size of tree you’d like to adopt and we deliver it to your home for Christmas. The price includes delivery to your door before Christmas and pick up after. We will also hold a small deposit that will be refunded once your tree is safely returned.

You can keep your beautiful Living Christmas Tree for three weeks or so, after which, it becomes unhealthy for the tree to remain inside. You’ll need to select drop-off and pick-up times for your location, based on your availability and the good health of the tree. Even though you’ll still have to say goodbye to your tree, know that, instead of going out with the trash, it will be returned to the North Pole, so it can continue growing until next Christmas.

By renting your tree, it stays alive. It is returned at the end of the season and the company maintains it for the following year, when you can rent a tree again. I think this is GREAT. Prices, at this time, are a little higher than purchasing a dead tree. They are trying to make it as economical as possible. With growth and popularity, it will be!

If it isn’t too late, I would hope you all consider renting a tree this year.

holiday gift suggestions, day 5

I didn’t post suggestions at all last week, because I was finding things I wanted to suggest.

This one, I LOVE!!

CHANGING THE PRESENT

This is a website that links you, the gifter, to hundreds of charitable organizations in need of donations.

There are many options including saving wildlife, providing microloans to women in needs, buying rain collection barrels, adopting sea otters, and the lists go on and on and on and on.

We all have that person in our life that doesn’t need much more, or is difficult to buy for, or someone like me, who just doesn’t want anything. This is the perfect way to buy a gift that benefits the entire world, no just one person.

Think outside the box this holiday. Many people are downsizing. Many people are thinking about others instead of themselves. What a wonderful way to respect their choices. I know that many people are hesitant to buy a gift like this because there is a social stigma in giving a donation instead of giving a tangible, material item. To that I say: GET OVER IT!! There are things more important than you and your ego or how someone is going to think about you.

holiday gift suggestion, day 4

Since I seem to be on a “save the trees” theme… I’m going to stick with it for the week.

BUY A USED BOOK

I know that you may think I have lost my noggin’, today. But, I want you to consider for a second the amount of paper (therefore trees) used to make books. Many of which are really not even being read.

I want you to consider the idea of a rare, vintage book.

If you have someone in your life that values books… and, I mean everything about them; the smell, the touch, the language, the stories. If someone you know has a true love affair with books and reading, buy then a book of value. A book that can be cherished. A book from a hundred years ago, or a first edition of something more recent.

You can find a rare bookstore in almost every city in the country. I happen to live in Los Angeles, so I am going to suggest my favorite place: BOOK ALLEY

Book Alley is a great used bookstore in Pasadena. They have contemporary titles of all genres. However, I recently discovered their rare book section. I found a book in there from the 1800′s! And, most of the books have touching and remarkable inscriptions. This is an economic way to give someone a gift, create a sustainable home, and honor the written word and our past. This is also a gift that can, if chosen wisely, can increase in value. Can you say that about the Gap t-shirt you were thinking of getting Aunt Betty Sue?

Another benefit: buying local. By purchasing items from a locally owned business you are supporting our economy. For every $100 spent locally, $68 of that will stay in the community, compared to only $43 if you spend at a national chain. You have helped create and support local jobs, you conserved your tax dollars, you nurtured your community AND… you help the environment.

So, consider getting something that is unique, valuable, treasured, and saves the community and the environment. I mean really… doesn’t everything else just seem to pale in comparison, now?

Happy Holidays!

holiday gift suggestions, day 1

It is the time of year where we spend a lot of money buying gifts for friends and family. It is a practice that I don’t necessarily support, but I figure if you are going to do it, you might as well make it something that helps us and not hurts us. Therefore, I will be giving daily suggestions for things you can buy your friends and family this holiday season.

GREEN DIMES

Give the gift of less junk mail. Seriously, who wouldn’t want that. It is $20 for a whole year, so it is affordable, as well.

What happens? You submit a name and address and let them know what you would like to keep getting (mainly for catalogs). They use that information to contact anyone and everyone and get the name off of mailing lists, effectively, stopping the waste of junk mail. In fact, they guarantee 90% of your junk mail will be stopped. And, if that isn’t reason enough… they also plant FIVE trees in your name.

I mean… come on! What a gift. This literally is the gift that keeps on giving. At least… in terms of oxygen!

So… if you have employees, service providers, neighbors or the like, that you want to give something to, but are just not sure what… sign them up for Green Dimes