Last Minute Gifts That Will Change Lives

Surprise! The world didn't end today... We are all still here but now we face a new dilemma. All of those presents we were putting off buying because 'the world is going to end anyways' are now needed!

The idea of facing a mall this late in the game makes me nauseous and the chances of getting something you order online in time for Christmas is a little bit scarce! So what do you do?

You buy a goat of course! For years one of my good friends asks her family to buy a goat for a family in a third world country - I can't remember if she ever got her goat!

I thought about this when I was attempting to find something for a few members of my family who have everything. So I googled 'buying a goat' and came across the Oxfam Unwrapped web site.

I was amazed by the amount of options they had. Not only could I buy a goat or a chicken or a sheep. I could also buy seeds, plant trees, provide education about HIV and AIDS and clean drinking water etc. Fantastic! My mom was just given a bee hive from one of her classmates. They have options for all budgets!

If you prefer to give back in your community, make a donation in the name of the receiver! Or donate to something of importance to that person - humane society for the animal lover, local school for the teacher etc.

If you still want to make sure they have something to open on Christmas morning, buy them something small and wrap that. Or wrap up the piece of paper that tells them about the amazing donation that you made for them.

Not only will they appreciate your uniqueness... Many more people will benefit from your creative generosity!

Wrap it Up!

So you've finished (hopefully) all of your Christmas shopping and now it is time to wrap. You could go out and spend more of your money on wrapping paper and tape, bows and ribbon (most of which will just end up in the trash) OR you could chose to go green with your gift wrapping this year.

Now, when I hear the term Eco-friendly gift wrapping, my mind automatically goes to boring boxes wrapped up in old newspaper. However, as I have recently discovered Eco-friendly wrap can be quite pretty. It just takes a little bit of creativity and items that you may have lying around the house. Not only will you eliminate a lot of the garbage produced by your family Christmas, but you will also save money too!

If you want to go the newspaper route, add a nice ribbon to make it look festive. You can use the comic section for wrapping children's toys or for something a little different, use old maps instead... maybe from a recent vacation or a trip you are planning to take. For a fun grandparents gift, wrap your presents in scrap paper and have the kiddies decorate the packages!

For those of you who are fantastic scrapbookers, use plain brown paper bags and jazz them up with fun paper cut outs, ribbon, glitter etc. You can also cut the bags up and fold them around your boxes like this... And once the presents are unwrapped the bags can be tossed in the recycle bin. You can even make your own bows to put on your presents!

Using fabric can also add a special touch... Use old clothes and pillow cases and tie them ribbon.  For big presents use a sheet! You can use the wrap over again or donate it when Christmas is over... Either way it will look great under your tree.

Fill a reusable cookie tin with hot chocolate, cookies or other home made treats.  Create a gardening themed gift by filling a watering can with hand tools, pruners and seeds and top it off with some tissue paper. No need for wrapping paper!

For those of you who are less creative, all is not lost! Instead of wrapping paper... just use gift bags and tissue paper instead.  Super Simple! They can be re-used over and over again and the tissue paper can be thrown into the green bin when you are done with it!

And if wrapping paper is truly what you want to stick with... not a problem!  Just try to find wrapping paper that is not only made from recycled material but also can be recycled (most paper has to go in the trash).  You can also find biodegradable wrapping paper that can be put in the green bin or compost bin!

For more eco-friendly wrapping ideas Try this Web Site! The key is to have some fun with it... and no matter what you create your friends and family will have tons more fun unwrapping it!

Keeping it Real... The Tree That Is!

There is a great debate amongst Christmas tree owners about whether an artificial or a real tree will make or break their holiday season. For many people, the decision is deeply personal and they are not afraid to make their opinions known. These days, artificial trees are being made to look more realistic and more convenient, with lights already on the tree and more authentic looking branch tips. Even though the artificial trees popularity has grown, when it comes down to environmental impact... KEEPING IT REAL comes out on top! 
    

Now going out and chopping down a tree does seem to be a really UN-environmentally friendly option, but when compared to the alternative... real is the way to go. Most artificial trees are made from plastics, which not only use a lot of oil to make but also create a lot of emissions throughout the manufacturing process. On the other hand, most Christmas trees are grown on tree farms. These farms not only sequester carbon dioxide, they are also often located in areas that are unusable for other crops, like the areas under power lines. 

Some may argue that artificial trees, when used year after year, do not generate the same amount waste that real trees create. True... However, artificial trees are made from non-renewable resources and will eventually end up in the trash while real Christmas trees are biodegradable. Many municipalities have designated Christmas tree pick up days in January, and the trees are converted to mulch and compost. 

Real Christmas trees are not without their flaws. Tree farms can consume large amounts of water and often use pesticides and fertilizers to keep the trees looking healthy - you can check with your local tree farmer to see what chemicals they use. Also, as is the case in my family, some people are allergic to the real trees so choose what works best for your family!

The most environmentally friendly type of tree, besides forgoing the tree this year, is to buy a potted tree or a tree with roots intact so it can be replanted after Christmas. Here’s the downside, this type of tree should only be kept inside for about a week, and has to be very well cared for or it will die and your efforts will be wasted. As I have little luck when it comes living things, I am staying away from this option. 

Another important thing to remember if you still haven’t gotten out to get your tree is to shop locally. Not only will you save gas but you will also help reduce the impact of your Christmas tree. If you are buying a tree from a store or a tree lot, keep in mind the distance that the tree has traveled. And if you do choose a real Christmas tree make you sure you keep it well watered to reduce the risk of it drying out and catching fire.  

What type of Christmas tree does your family have?

Tis the Season

As the holiday season approaches, it is easy to throw all of your good habits away. Whether it’s going to the gym, eating right or staying green, we tend to lose track of them as Christmas gets closer. 

In my next few posts, I will provide some tips to that will allow you to have a great Christmas, as well as a Green Christmas! Today’s post is all about shopping!

We have all had it drilled into our heads that we should be bringing reusable shopping bags to the grocery store with us. I have a plethora of reusable bags stashed in my closet - from every chain of grocery store in town, from some clothing stores and from every environmental event I have attended in the past few years – and yet I still forget them almost every time. I’m that girl you see in the parking lot loading groceries into her car item by item because I refuse to take a plastic bag.  

Most grocery stores have stopped charging for their plastic bags, but a lot of us still use reusable bags for groceries. If you haven’t gotten into that habit, try keeping bags in your car. Just make sure you bring them into the store with you to pack up your Christmas feast and put them back into your car after you unpack (that one is usually my downfall). 

 A less common occurrence is the sight of reusable shopping bags at the shopping mall. Now as much fun as it would be to carry around a couple of those thick canvas totes as you do your Christmas shopping... That’s not what I am talking about. Believe it or not, they do make reusable shopping bags that are compact and actually practical when it comes to shopping. Plus they come in all different styles colors and sizes for the fashionista in you! 

Pack one or two in your purse or pocket before you hit the mall and pull it out when you make your first purchase. If you forget to bring them, try to put all of your purchases in one bag – just ignore the strange look you get when you tell the cashier “I don’t need a bag for that.”

Also, consider giving a compact shopping bag as a gift for Christmas - they would make a great stocking stuffer. That way your family and friends can make an impact too!

Bring Your Own Mug and Save Money

After making the switch to reusable water bottles, making the switch to reusable coffee mugs for my morning coffee was easy. I use Contigo mugs with AutoSeal technology. They don't leak (unless they have been dropped) and they keep your coffee or tea warm for hours! I love them!

There is nothing worse than cold coffee and for someone who takes three hours to finish a mug of coffee - something that occurs far too often in my life - being able to return to it and find it still drinkable is amazing. 

When I worked in an office, I kept a regular household mug at my desk and used it for coffee, tea and water throughout the day.

If the waste isn't a concern of yours, money may be.  Did you know that most coffee spots (including Tim Horton's and Starbucks) offer a 10 cent discount if you bring a reusable mug. Add that up and you could save yourself $36.50 in one year if you buy a coffee everyday. If you avoid the coffee shop altogether the saving only go up from there.

What ever coffee option you choose, make sure that you pick an option that is easy and works best for you! 

Rethink the Bottle

Kicking my plastic water bottle habit has been my biggest challenge. It wasn’t until a few years into university that I finally made the switch... All it took was living on my own (which meant paying for my own groceries) and a lot of peer pressure.

When you actually think about it, the concept of bottled water is a little ridiculous. Some genius came up with the idea to take tap water (which is what many bottled water companies use in Ontario) which is virtually free and marking the price up by up to 4000%... And people are still willing to pay for it!! 

I think it is time to rethink the bottle.

If you are worried about the safety of tap water versus bottled water, listen to this. In Canada, municipal tap water has very strict monitoring guidelines. These guidelines do not apply to bottled water and the testing is not as frequent. Not to mention, as the bottle breaks down over time (especially in hot temperatures) chemicals leach into the water – and who knows how long that case of water has been sitting in a warehouse or on the shelf? 

If you don’t like the taste of your tap water, DON’T PANIC! Pick up a water filter, either a standalone filter to put in your fridge or one to put on your tap, like Pur water filters, to change the taste of your water. While you’re at it, pick up some colorful reusable water bottles. I use metal bottles, but my sister finds that it can give off a metallic taste. Reusable plastic bottles also work well... Just make sure they are BPA free.

Make it a habit of taking your new bottle with you. That way you have it on hand and won’t have to buy a bottle of water when you get thirsty. I keep one in my purse at all times and bring at least one extra with me to work. Not only is it convenient, but it’s also FREE. And once you get used to bringing your bottle everywhere, I promise you won’t miss the plastic!

My Environmental Journey

I grew up in the country, which I believe has given me a different perspective on certain things that most people take for granted.

Water, for instance, was a very precious commodity to us growing up. We had a very small well which made doing laundry, washing dishes, showering and using the toilets very challenging for a family of five. On many occasions we would get part way through a shower only to have the water run out. We would then have to sit and wait in the cold, covered in shampoo for 15 minutes until we had enough water to rinse off. I remember having birthday parties where we would have to put a sign in the bathroom asking our guests to 'flush every other time please.' Try explaining that at the age of nine.

We also didn't have - and still don't have - garbage pickup. Instead we take our garbage directly to the dump... Paying for each visit. Because of this my family and I became experts at composting at recycling... Driving our plastics and paper across town to the sorting facility and braving the cold to the compost bin in our backyard. We have since been given recycling and green bin pick up but this need to divert as much as we can to minimize our trips to the dump has stuck with me.

It wasn't until I hit university that I started making conscious decisions to make my life more sustainable - which for me was a big deal. I'm going to be honest with you... I am a creature of habit and as such I HATE CHANGE! I have altered my life for the better in many ways but I admit that I am not perfect and I still have a long way to go.

Here I will share some of the simple changes I have made to my life and that you can easily make too. SIMPLE ACTIONS MATTER and the more small steps you take - the more you 'lean into green' - the bigger the impact you will have on the planet, the future and even your wallet!