Category Archives: Green Gifts

10 Unique and Handmade Holiday Gifts under $25

  By Donna DeForbes | December 7, 2015 - 5:00 am |
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Yes, you can shop green while on a budget. If you shop Etsy while you’re at it, you support artisans and small businesses that focus on crafting handmade items. Here are ten unique gift ideas for the people on your list, and all are under $25! Sea Shell Hanging Air Plant, $4.99 Delight the plant lover in your life with these super cool tillandsias, or air plants. They hang encased in sea urchin shells and require only bright light and occasional water misting. Plants come assembled and gift wrapped and would add an exotic, conversation piece to any room. Aromatherapy Diffuser Necklace, $20.00 Fill these handmade necklaces with your favorite essential oil. They’re made from allergy, lead and nickel-free stainless steel accented in your choice of nine colors with the words “only love” etched into the side. A few drops of oil releases its aroma for you all day long. … Continue reading →

Tips for Dealing with Kids and Commercialism at the Holidays

  By Donna DeForbes | November 17, 2015 - 5:00 am | , ,
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After learning a song about climate change at school, my nine-year-old has been following us around the house turning off a light the minute someone steps out of a room. She has also been heard to make comments like, “Daddy, you shouldn’t buy a new TV because it makes more carbon dioxide, and that doesn’t help the polar bears.” I am thinking this could be a good time to make links for her between those cute polar bears and the pollution created in the manufacture of plastic toys. Yet I know this knowledge will likely be cast aside as the holiday season approaches. Sofie naturally succumbs to the childlike quality of always wanting more stuff – the latest doll or fashion style, new books, another adorable stuffed animal. And many of those wants come from advertising, whether it’s via TV, a store circular or word-of-mouth (a.k.a. her friends). At the holidays, … Continue reading →

Review: Bottles & Wood Upcycled Jewelry

  By Donna DeForbes | June 9, 2015 - 5:00 am | ,
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Bottles&Wood Upcycled Jewelry | Eco-Mothering.com

I’m a big fan of upcycling and creative reuse… and I also love pendant necklaces. So I jumped at the chance to review Bottle & Wood’s repurposed jewelry for The Green Mama. (Manda has a really awesome site and book, both of which you should check out!) Bottles & Wood is a California company that rescues used wine, liquor and water bottles from local hotels and restaurants and crafts them into gorgeous bangles, earrings and necklaces — like this Bombay Sapphire pendant necklace. Read my full review on The Green Mama — and receive 15% off your jewelry purchase!  

Product Review: Adopt a Healthy, Sweeter-Smelling Herban Lifestyle

  By Donna DeForbes | April 21, 2015 - 9:00 am | , ,
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Herban Lifestyle Body Butter | Eco-Mothering.com

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Green Sisterhood. I received products to review but was not compensated for publishing the review. Opinions are all my own. One of the best things about being a blogger is forging relationships with small, natural living companies that I may never otherwise have discovered. Herban Lifestyle is one such company that makes it easy for us to balance our urban lifestyles with herbal habits. Owner Mary Kearns grew up in an ecologically conscious family and began making herbal bath and beauty products in 1999, selling them at local farmers markets. Her interest in the healing properties of herbs led her to found Herban Lifestyle in 2008 and share her products with a larger audience. Mary has also served as a wellness consultant on the scientific review of cancer prevention programs. With a mission to “make the world a happier, healthier, better-smelling place,” Herban Lifestyle creates products of … Continue reading →

Taking the Shame Out of Regifting

  By Donna DeForbes | December 9, 2014 - 5:00 am | ,
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Benefits of Re-gifting | Eco-Mothering.com

Regifting is a touchy subject. Even though about 50% of adults consider it acceptable, the practice is often shrouded in shame and secrecy. The belief is that a gift should be bought brand new — but why? What is this cultural obsession with newness? Newer doesn’t make us happier. According to the Story of Stuff, our national happiness peaked sometime in the 1950s, even though we consume twice as much as we did back then. Yet we continue to buy new stuff for ourselves and for others, especially around the holidays. The Truth About Buying New It uses up our planet’s natural resources. (One-third of our resources have been consumed in the past 30 years.)* It adds to landfills. (Every person in the United States makes 4.5 pounds of garbage per day.)* Typically, newer products are not made as well and don’t last as long. It costs more money. The … Continue reading →

WILD MINT SHOP: One-Stop Holiday Shopping for Safe, Sustainable Toys

  By Donna DeForbes | November 4, 2014 - 5:00 am | , ,
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Wild Mint Shop Toys | Eco-Mothering.com

This post was sponsored by Green Sisterhood. As always, all opinions are my own. Do you have a lot of extra time around the holidays? I doubt it. Do you aim to buy gifts quickly without a lot of hassle or research? Ideally. And can you trust that those gifts are not only bound to put a smile on the intended receiver, but are also safe for their health and for the planet? Ummmm…. Yeah, who thinks of that? Of course you want your kids, nieces and nephews to play with toys that won’t emit formaldehyde or lead to early puberty or cancer. But that simply isn’t front of mind when we’re shopping, is it? We have a list, we have a budget, we pick something off the shelf or online. Wrap it up. Done. And it’s not that we’re cold-hearted or careless. It’s that we kind of want to … Continue reading →

7 Eco-Friendly, DIY Baby Shower Gifts

  By Donna DeForbes | August 26, 2014 - 5:00 am | ,
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DIY Eco Baby Shower Gifts | Eco-Mothering.com

This is a guest post by Ali Lawrence. As enjoyable as it is to select the right color or style gift for a baby and mom-to-be, it’s equally important to present a gift that is safe for mother, baby and Mother Earth. Baby showers are a great opportunity to get creative and stretch your crafting muscles. Need inspiration? Try your hand at one of the seven eco-friendly options on this list. Knit Blankets Baby knitwear is a no-brainer for DIY shower gifts. Mothers will certainly appreciate having an extra blanket to tuck around Junior at home, in the car or at Grandma’s.When looking for earth-friendly yarn options, organic is a good place to start. Organic yarns are durable and chemical-free, plus they actually become softer over time. There are other renewable materials available like soysilk (from soy proteins), seasilk (from seaweed), bamboo and hemp. Burp Cloths Baby spit-up is a … Continue reading →

Top 10 Unique and Green Gifts for Fathers

  By Donna DeForbes | May 23, 2014 - 5:00 am | ,
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fathers-day-gifts-neat-freak

If you’re a follower of my blog, you know I’m a fan of Uncommon Goods. The company is a charitable giving, B Corporation member that offers an array of handmade and eco-friendly gifts. This year, Uncommon Goods has a Father’s Day collection of unique gifts that will trump that necktie any day. Is Dad a Foodie? He’s another version of the Food Network’s Guy Fieri, waxing poetic over Asian style grilled salmon or making special requests of restaurant waiters. Take him to the store with you, and you’ll find your cart loaded with gourmet food items, top shelf liquor or strange vegetables he feels compelled to experiment with. Green his grilling tools with this set made from recycled hockey sticks. The artist’s company recycles 20,000 pieces of sports equipment each year into wine racks, chairs and more. I bought these whiskey stones for my husband last year, and he loves them. The … Continue reading →