Hey earth muffins! As the winter chill sets in, there’s nothing quite like a warm mug of hot chocolate to add a touch of indulgence to the season. To make your hot cocoa experience more eco-friendly, you can source your hot chocolate toppings from the bulk bins! In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the best hot chocolate toppings to buy in bulk, ensuring that you’re well-stocked for cozy moments.
Read More ➥Tag: christmas
bookmark_borderHow to (Politely) Avoid Getting Non-Eco Gifts for Christmas
Hey earth muffins! As the holiday season approaches, many of us look forward to the joy of giving and receiving gifts. However, for those committed to an eco-friendly lifestyle, receiving non-sustainable presents can be a challenge. You want to be polite and grateful to someone for taking the time (and spending the money) to get you the item… But, you want to make sure you actually can use and appreciate the gift! In this blog post, we’ll explore proactive strategies to guide your loved ones toward choosing environmentally conscious gifts; they are a great way to avoid getting non-eco gifts for Christmas!
Read More ➥bookmark_borderAre Christmas Lights Sustainable? And More Eco-Friendly Options
Hey earth muffins! The festive season is here! It often involves the dazzling glow of Christmas lights adorning homes and streets. While these lights bring joy and warmth during some bitter cold months, it’s essential to examine their environmental impact. In this blog post, we’ll answer the question, “Are Christmas Lights Sustainable?” and explore alternative options to decorate for the holidays this year.
Read More ➥bookmark_borderThe BEST Eco-Friendly White Elephant Gifts
Hey earth muffins! Christmas is just around the corner; I don’t know about you but my schedule has been packed with holiday events and office parties. Many of these include bringing some sort of gift to exchange. There are plenty of options for fun (and useful) zero waste white elephant gifts…. Keep reading for a full list of the best eco-friendly presents to bring to your next office party!
Eco-Friendly White Elephants Gift Guide:
1. First up – mason jar soup, dessert, or hot chocolate mix. Ever feel like you (maybe) have too many mason jars? This is the perfect way to pass on a jar AND delectable treat. Don’t forget to include the recipe too!
Read More ➥bookmark_borderHow to Tie Furoshiki Wraps (An Alternative to Wrapping Paper!)
Hey earth muffins! Christmas is just around the corner and holiday shopping has begun. 🎄 Instead of using disposable wrapping paper to wrap your gifts, I highly suggest trying out furoshiki wraps instead. These are a great reusable alternative and are much better for the environment. Let’s jump into a guide on what these wraps are AND how to wrap presents with them.
So, What Are Furoshiki Wraps?
Furoshiki wraps are pieces of fabric that are used to wrap gifts. While you can buy specific furoshiki wraps, there are plenty of things you can use that are already around your house. Old fabric scraps, bandanas, scarves, etc. Get creative and use what you already have before buying any furoshiki wraps this Christmas. Using these wraps are obviously better for the planet because they can be reused every year and don’t require the usage of any new resources to produce.
Read More ➥bookmark_borderAre Real or Fake Christmas Trees Better for the Environment?
Hey earth muffins! Let’s be honest, Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without a decorated tree. For those trying to live more sustainable lifestyles and have a zero waste Christmas, you might question if real or fake Christmas trees are better for the planet. The short answer: it really depend. There are pros and cons to both types, so keep reading to learn about the best options for each type of tree!
The Pros and Cons of Real Christmas Trees
Read More ➥bookmark_borderHow to Find the Best Secondhand Ugly Christmas Sweaters
Hey earth muffins! My Christmas spirit has come early this year… Not sure why, but I’m so ready for the holidays! 😊 There are often a bunch of holiday events to attend in December; many of them have an “ugly sweater” theme. Don’t buy your ugly sweater at the store just yet… You can find plenty of them secondhand! Here are my tips for finding the best secondhand ugly Christmas sweaters this year:
~Start looking early!
The earlier you start scouring thrift stores for “ugly” holiday sweaters, the better your chances are for finding the best ones. If you haven’t started your hunt already, I suggest you get started ASAP. The best idea is to look for them consistently throughout the year too. I’ve even seen a ton of them over the summer months when they aren’t as highly coveted.
Read More ➥bookmark_border3 Eco-Friendly Christmas Decorations: Easy Upcycled Decor!
Hey earth muffins! The Christmas tree is up, holiday decorations are everywhere – and of course, I have been playing Christmas music nonstop. 🎄 The holiday season is one of my favorite times of year, and it seems like many agree. My house doesn’t feel as spirited without cute decorations and ornaments on the tree. Many of these are secondhand, but upcycling your own decor is a great way to add a personal touch to the holidays in your home. For today’s post, I wanted to share my top three eco-friendly Christmas decorations – perfect for a sustainable holiday!
Felt Light Bulbs Garland
If you are like me, you probably have a craft drawer or cupboard in your house. I used to be a hardcore crafter… And now that I try to live sustainably, I utilize leftover craft supplies often. It is important to use what you already have before making new craft supply purchases. Don’t underestimate the items you can find at secondhand stores too! For this upcycled holiday decoration, you will need a bunch of felt and a ribbon. I recommend creating a stencil to draw out each individual “light”. This will keep them all a similar size! Either use a black/gray marker or black/gray felt to add in the bulb details. Cut each one out and attach to the string with glue (or sew onto the ribbon if you prefer). If you have some sort of stuffing in your craft bin, you could even create three dimension “bulbs” too!
Tree Stump Ornaments and/or Coasters
The next on this eco-friendly Christmas decorations lists is a classic – a tree stump coaster and/or ornament! For those of you who cut down real trees for the holidays, this is the perfect upcycled project for you. All you have to do is saw off a bit of the stump at the end. I suggest trying to cut it on the thinner side, but feel free to cut it as thick as you want. To personalize it, you can write “Christmas 2021” or a fun holiday quote. Or just leave it blank for a cozy log cabin vibe. 🙃 My parents made a coaster of their very first Christmas tree together – so cute and romantic (and we still take it out every year)! If you decide to turn it into an ornament instead, just drill a hole through it and use some ribbon to hang onto the tree.
Dried Orange Garland and/or Ornament
Many great sustainable decorations for the holidays use dried oranges (or other citrus fruits). If you have some leftover oranges that are going bad, this is an awesome way to divert food waste from going to the landfill. And I think they look really festive too! To dry citrus, cut into slices and cook for 4-6 hours in a 175-degree oven. Rotate every couple of hours; they are done when dry to the touch! The most important part of drying the fruits is to make sure all of the slices are uniform, as this ensures they cook evenly. Once cooked, string the orange slices into a garland, hang onto the tree as an ornament, or use in a vase/mason jar for a holiday centerpiece. Get creative!
Finals Thoughts on Eco-Friendly Christmas Decorations
There you have it, three eco-friendly Christmas decorations for the holiday season. For those who call themselves crafters, making a leftover felt “light bulb” garland is such a fun project to tackle this winter. Now your lights don’t have to just go on the Christmas tree! 😍 If you are less confident in your crafting skills, make a tree stump coaster or try your hand at drying citrus fruits. These are all excellent ways to decorate your house sustainably by upcycling what you already have in your home. What holiday decorations have you made this year? Comment below and share some other Pinterest ideas too!
Love,
Jenna ♥