I love holiday parties. Okay, I love parties for any occasion, but ’tis the season for holiday parties, so we’ll stick with that as my excuse for loving parties.
The unfortunate part is that parties are often an occasion for over-abundance and waste. (Also an occasion for over-indulgence, but that’s another topic completely!) But it shouldn’t be an occasion that makes you feel guilty or stressed out for fear that a great celebration has to be completely eco-unfriendly.
There ARE some simple ways to “green” your holiday party:
- Try evites or create your own electronic invitations instead of mailing the paper store-bought version. Sure, you might have a few guests who aren’t email users, but where you can minimize… minimize! For guests, requiring mailed invitations consider using last year’s holiday cards and turn the front of the card into a postcard. Too cute!
- Decorate using live plants and maybe even give them to guests at the end of the night. Toss pine cones or evergreen clippings from your yard (or your neighbors!) into a bunch of beautiful bowls or vases you already own.
- Turn off an excess of lights. Blaze up the soy candles. It creates great ambiance.
- Turn down the thermostat. Bodies = heat!
- Consider buying biodegradable and/or compostable tableware. Eco Products offers a variety of tableware made from corn, sugarcane and paper. Or check out Verterra for tableware with some real character – made of leaves! (Crazy, huh?… but very beautiful!) If you’re a Captain Moneybags, rent real tableware and utensils… not in my budget, but maybe someday!
- Hit a dollar store for linens. I bought four cloth napkins for a buck! Skip the poinsettia print. Pick flat colors so they can be used for many other occasions.
- Set up a receptacle for recycling. Clearly mark it and ask everyone to jump on board.
- Set up a numbering system where only “every fourth guest” who uses the bathroom flushes. Haahaa! Obviously, this one is just a joke! I’m not that crazy!
Sincerely, just do the best you can. It’s a time to celebrate being with the people you care about and if you’re doing the best you can do, you’re doing great! Every little thing matters.
And really… stop considering that numbering system… it was a joke… a JOKE!
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great tips.
do you have any ideas for recycled holiday wrapping paper? i’m trying to find somewhere to order it online that won’t cost a fortune. i did the newspaper thing last christmas but didn’t love all that newspaper print. any ideas?
the mama bird diariess last blog post..rock bottom please
mama bird – I don’t have any great suggestions, except to buy the wrapping paper that is non-metallic & uncoated (doesn’t look shiny) since it recycles better than the coated stuff. I use, reuse and ask others to reuse gift bags. But I understand that kids love the wrapping paper. I also like the idea of fabric bags, or fabric remnants tied with ribbon. Another idea, is to have kids decorate brown paper and wrap gifts in that. Lastly, you could buy reusable bags like the ones I mentioned were being carried at Toys R Us http://www.momgoesgreen.com/bag-it-baby/ …only $1.49, adorable and they have a very long-lasting use after the holidays. I was in there last week and they have some great ones that don’t scream “I was bought at Toys R Us!” Hope this helps.
Doreen – I recently read that you can decorate with leaves, twigs, pinecones, etc. and put some essential oils on them too! I have been amazed for smaller gatherings when I put our real plates that my friends will say “Just get the paper plates” to which I respond I don’t have any. I love using our plain white plates and white cloth napkins. People don’t realize just how easy it really is! And if you have kids, you’re doing laundry all the time anyway, you just chuck ‘em in.
LOL about the 4th flush, You had me going for a second.
OneGreenMommys last blog post..A Little Update
OneGreenMommy – I love the idea of adding essential oils.. great one! And I’m like you… no paper plates or napkins in this house either. I shutter to think what we’ll encounter over the holidays at OTHER houses though!
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