As I was browsing I knew I had to find something special for my smallest and newest niece. At 6 weeks old, she’s a bit too tiny for a tutu, so I settled on this sweet hooded towel that I was able to personalize with some mickey/minnie mouse ribbon and her name embroidered in the Walt Disney font. As Brooke’s mom is a big Disney fan, I’m pretty sure this one will be well-received.

And finally, I’m absolutely IN LOVE with these eco-friendly reusable sandwich and snack bags!!! I ordered a set for some friends who are like-minded and am excited to fill them with goodies to start them off.

Of course, as I was browsing Etsy, I couldn’t help but take a peek at all the fabulous things that could be used for a winter wedding!! I found so many beautiful decorations, favors, jewelry, etc. Winter weddings are truly beautiful! I got married in June. I chose that time of year so we could have an outdoor wedding and so I could have tulips everywhere (my favorite flower!); but I have to say, the possibilities for a winter wedding rival those of a spring or summer wedding! I just love their cozyness!

This boutonniere is fabulous!! I adore the use of the pinecone. It exudes a bit of manliness, doesn’t it? And the hair piece is flirty and classic! I’ve become a big fan of fun things, such as feathers and flowers, in the hair, so I think this is perfect!

Decorations at your wedding are oh-so-important as they not only help impart the mood of your event, but they speak of who YOU are as a person. Fancy, classic, elegant, whimsical, FUN, rustic, urban, country, etc. You get the idea! In my opinion, home-made decorations are ALWAYS the best because they will be more YOU than anything else! And you’d be surprised at how easy it can be to do. However, it can also be very time-consuming. So, when you need a little help, what better place to turn than etsy (if not just for ideas!). I really like these snowflake place cards. And these ornamental balls would add a very elegant touch! They remind me of mistletoe (perhaps this is why their creator calls them “kissing balls”), which is just perfect for a wedding!! Perhaps my favorite, and most simple, of the decorations I looked at are these perfectly romantic and simple mason jar lanterns. And these would be such an easy DIY project!!!

Finally, favors are another element to your wedding that you can use to carry out your theme. I thought these pillow boxes topped with Poinsettias would be a nice complement to a Christmas wedding theme. The splash of bold color will make them stand out nicely on white or cream colored table clothes.

So now you see what I’ve been doing with my time! Okay, I haven’t spent ALL of my time surfing etsy, but I sure could!!

So, consider this the first installment in a series on “greening” up your life, and more specifically, Green Weddings!! I thought I would begin by sharing how Rich and I try to live a bit greener in our personal lives. In preparation, I gave myself an assignment! I made a list of all the ways Rich and I live earth-friendly, and then I phogographed some of the more tangible things.

The biggest thing we do is buy primarily organic foods. By doing so, not only are we supporting those who don’t spread harmful chemicals around or inject animals with needless drugs, but we are supporting our own health too! I do all of my own grocery shopping, but if I didn’t, I would use Greenling, a company that delivers local, organic foods right to your door! We are also careful about the cleaning agents we use. Rather than using harsh chemicals, we go the natural route. Seventh Generation is a brand of products that we really like, and they have everything!! Another brand we use is Method. Though both of these earth-conscience companies make fabulous products, what I REALLY want to do is start making my own cleaners. I actually think it would be fun! So if anyone has some good “recipes” for detergents or other cleaners, send then my way!!

Something that I really LOVE doing is using reusable bags when I shop. There are so many benefits to using these bags! Many of them are made from recycled products (such as water bottles), I don’t have mounds of plastic bags taking over my home, they are stronger and hold about twice what a plastic grocery store bag will hold, and I get to carry fun, cute bags when I shop! My favorites are from Whole Foods Market and Central Market. Every time they come out with a new design, I want it! But I don’t limit myself to using these only when I’m grocery shopping. I use them for everything!

Rich and I also love clothes and shoes made from earth-friendly and/or recycled products. Clothing (and even sheets and towels) made from bamboo is phenomenal!! It is extremely soft and comfortable, and even better, it is made from a renewable resource!! Organic cotton is another material we love. You can find some great clothing at Whole Foods Market (they have a clothing aisle!), Whole Earth Provision (Texas stores only) or online at Gaiam and The Green Loop. Great shoes made from recycled materials can be had from Rafters and Terra Plana. Something else to consider is the factories that produce your clothing (or anything else you buy). The type of material used is only a part of the equation. What kind of energy do companies use to make the things you purchase? There are some businesses that rely on wind or solar energy, an abundant resource most don’t take advantage of. Also, do they do things to preserve the environment around them, or do they continuously harm it? These are not factors I usually consider when I make a purchase, but I’m going to make a more conscience effort to pay attention to these things.

Finally, Rich and I have shared a single car for two years. Has it been hard and inconvenient? Heck yeah! But, we realized that we didn’t really NEED two cars, and that the benefits might outweigh the inconveniences. So, we sold my little Toyota Corolla and kept the Honda Accord. The benefits, you might ask? Well, we save on gas, maintenance, and car insurance! We are also contributing less pollutants to the air. Oh, and our Honda has some sort of gadget (no idea what it is exactly) that allows us to use Ethanol (E85), a corn-based alternative to gasoline, which is a renewable resource, biodegradable, low in toxicity, and causes little environmental pollution as it burns. But the jury is out on whether we get the same gas-mileage using E85.

While we would never win the Mr. and Mrs. Green Award, we do try to do our part. Things that we still need to do include recycling on a consistent basis, buying and using a rain barrel and composting bin, and harvesting wind and solar energy for our own use at home. Some of these things will simply take time (and money!), but they have a firm place on the must-do list.

Feel free to share any new ways/ideas you implement green living in your own life. I’m always up for suggestions! And keep your eyes open as I begin discussing how to plan and execute a Green Wedding. Right now my plan is to discuss the dress, the rings, the invitations, the favors, the cake/food, and the decorations. Is there anything else you’d like to hear about? If so, let me know and I’ll research it!