Cool Shower Idea! (Cut the Paper Please!)

Hello Me Heartys! (I set my facebook page to pirate yesterday (which was fun for 10 minutes), and I can't stop with the lingo!)

Just thought that I would take a sec to pass along a super cool idea that me sisters-in-law to be did for my shower. They threw me a "Display Shower." Now perhaps you have all heard of this, but I have...ehem...not.

For those of you who, like me, had not heard of one: A Display Shower is a shower where the guests bring their gifts UNWRAPPED and put them out on a table for the duration of the party with a card attached, so you know who it is from. Why do I LOVE this idea? Let me count the ways:

1. We don't waste paper, time, or MONEY on silly wrapping that will be thrown away in two seconds.

2. I don't have to sit in front of 50 people sweating while I open gifts, and worry that they are bored out of their minds, and just want me to open their gift so we can get on with it.

3. I get to spend more time chatting with the folks who came out to celebrate with me on this special day.

4. Everyone can peruse the gift table to see who gave me what, instead of craning their necks, and yelling, "Who is that from?" "What is it?"

5. We don't waste paper, time or MONEY on silly wrapping that will be thrown away in two seconds.

This one was such a no brainer! And everyone came up to me thanking ME for the idea that saved them all time and money! I gave credit to my girls, of course!

Also-they added to the green theme by giving reusable shopping bags as the favor, and by buying recycled thank you cards for me to give everyone! (Check out this cool idea: They had everyone fill out their name and address on an envelope to be entered in a door prize! Someone won a lovely hanging plant, and I got a stack of addressed envelopes! File this under, LOVE IT!)

Oh, and side note: there are sooo many ways to have an eco friendly shower...or to celebrate ANYTHING in an eco friendly way...check out The Green Party Starring Danielle Venokur of dvGreen Events. She is a sustainable event planner here in the city, and she isn't afraid to share some tools of the trade with you. Plus she is really relate-able (not Martha Stewart-ish at all!) and the web show is fun to watch.) Also-check out planet green today for some tips on eco-friendly entertaining...I just love them!

I am totally stealing the "no wrapping paper" idea for the rest of my gift giving during the event. (and possibly for the rest of my life) I am "wrapping" the few things that need to be wrapped in reusable shopping bags (you can find super cute ones for very cheap) everything else we are going to present on a lovely table for all to see! Good for the planet, and good for my wallet. Now that is what I call an eco-win win!

Kiss and Make Up...

No, I am not talking about the Gene Simmons biography...I am talking about your face! Your wedding make-up that is. Make up is definitely one of those areas where going green can be super tricky...I mean, I want to be nice to the planet, but those chemicals make me look so PREEEEETTTTYYYY!!!

(Let's be honest, did you ever try any of these products back in the day? I wish that I had taken a photo of my friend Juliana when she used a "natural hair color" in the year of 2001. She tried to go blond, and all I will tell you is that the words, "Flesh Toned" were used to describe the resulting hair DISASTER...thank god she looks good in a hat.)

So what's a bride to do? Well-there is good news. The eco-friendly cosmetics situation has improved vastly in the last few years, and it is getting better everyday. At the same time, all of these new options bring up a lot of questions. (for me anyway) What does it mean when it says that something is "eco-friendly" or "natural"? What does it have to mean by law? Interestingly, there was an article about this very topic in Modern Bride Magazine this past month, and they had a little glossary:

A Green Glossary:
Knowing these terms will help you to read labels right:

Natural: The term has not been defined (or regulated) by the FDA, but is commonly assumed to refer to products contain ingredients from nature-such as essential oils, herbs, roots-manufactured without the use of synthetics.

Organic: Refers to how ingredients are grown and processed. Organic production avoids pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or hormones, genetic engineering or irradiation. Organic products are minimally processed, minus artificial ingredients and preservatives.

Fair Trade: A social movement and international trade system promoting the payment of fair prices and the maintenance of social and environmental standards, especially in developing countries.

Wild Crafted: The gathering of plants from their natural, wild habitat without the use of inorganic substances and without eradicating the plant completely.

Sustainable: Refers to the longevity of ecological support systems such as climate, agriculture and industry, forestry and fisheries, with the emphasis on not permanently depleting the environment.

How do you know for sure if something really is organic? They advise you to look for the following:

The USDA Certified Seal: According to Modern Bride (who heard it from the US Department of Agriculture) In order to wear the seal, the product must contain at least 95% organic materials...not too shabby. If they have at least 70% they can say "made with organic ingredients." But no seal.
Eco-Cert: This is similar to the above, but it is from France. :-)

Soil Association: Again with the 95% business...this time from Brittan.

Certified Natural Cosmetics: This means that the product was approved by the European Union natural-ingredient guidelines. (Meaning that they don't use a list of banned chemicals)

Ok, cool...now we know what to look for, but once we find the product...how do we know that it is any good? I mean heck, I'd love to buy one of everything and try it out...but isn't that wasteful? (And..ehem, who has the MONEY to do something like that?) Also, I mean, this is my wedding day, not Saturday night at some bar. These pictures will be forever, not for like three seconds onfacebook until I untag them. There isn't a large margin for error here people. I want to look like a movie star!!! So, who do we turn to? Well, how about checking in with a green celebrity make up artist? Here is one that I like a lot:

Paige Padgett, who's work can be seen on celebs like Cheryl Tiegs, and Jillian Michaels went green in 2008. Paige's mission statement is: To create impeccably beautiful faces while striving to be ecologically responsible and chemically safe in my cosmetic choices and practices. I seriously dig that. So until she comes out with her own line...any time now Paige... here are some brands she recommends:

Tarte
Josie Maran
Alison Raffaele
Lorac

For tools she uses Eco-tools (hi, you can get these at Walgreen's!)

As you will see when you check out her site, and her blog; Paige uses these lines to create some serious looks on the runway and the red carpet. (I.E. This make up actually works, and won't leave people saying-"Isn't it nice that she is wearing eco-friendly make up?" It will leave them saying...nothing. They will be speechless from your beauty.)

So if you are like me, you can't necessarily afford to hire Paige to actually do your make-up on your big day, but you probably can afford to take a trip to Sephora to pick up some items from the lines above. To catch a great blog where Paige shares some of her tips on buying eco friendly make-up: click here. Having your makeup done? Call the make-up artist, and see if they would be open to doing a trial with some items from these brands.

Still not sure? Well, click here for some of Paige's tips on how to look red carpet ready with no make up at all!

I don't know about you guys, but I feel so much better already.

A New Green Wedding Guide

One of my favorite sights, Planet Green, has a new Green Wedding Guide!!! It is pretty new, but there a already a few good articles on there...check it out my greenlicious brideys!

Green Wedding Guide!

Ok, back to work!

Quicky post! Real Simple Goes Green!

Hey all-Just getting back to work after a few days off, so I don't have time to say too much today, but I did come across this great link on RealSimple.com about natural beauty products...check it out:


and while you are there, look at their new Green Living Section... definitely worth a peek..bride or no bride.

:-)

ugh...back to work...

Stay Green!
Nancy

Eco Chic Wedding SALE!!!

So-now I am really going crazy here! David's Bridal is having an Earth Day Sale!!!

Tomorrow only, shop on line, and get 20% off all eco-friendly wedding essentials! (Invitations and Favors) I didn't even know that they had "eco-friendly wedding essentials," so I am shocked and happy all around...interested? Click Here for details!

~Stay Green!

Nancy

More Registry Ramblings...

Maybe it is just because Earth Day is fast approaching, but I can't seem to stop finding new places to register for an eco-concious bride!!! (And, hey, check these places out, even if you are aren't getting married. A girl can never have a nest that is "too green.")

In Style this month had a whole Earth Day section with their version of the "2009 Green Awards" My favorite tip? Check out this site:

Green Depot! You can register here for table top items home accessories, or use it as a way to get those green items that you always wanted, but can't afford (composting supplies, light bulbs, shower heads, cleaning supplies...you name it!) And not that we are there quite yet...but the baby stuff on this site is to DIE for! (Note to self: "Keep in mind for My Greenlicious Baby Blog"...more to follow. ;-)

Due to my career working for a professional organizer, I get all sorts of "Industry Rags." And this month they are all about the green housewares! In Kitchenware News, (yup, it exists) they have a whole section this month about bridal registries...they mentioned three places in particular that caught my eye:




1. For the perfect "one stop shop" eco-friendly wedding registry try 3r Living Brooklyn (yeah...this is actually in my neighborhood. Jealous? You don't have to be. They have an online wedding registry that is just awesome. (psst...AWESOME!)





2. Macys: In addition to offering a charity registry, (Just like the one that I did with the I Do Foundation! How great is that? All of the benefits to your charity, and one stop shopping!! HELLO!!) Macy's now offers a lot of eco friendly products to fill up your nest! Check out Martha Stewart's EcoCook, and Lenox's "Re-New" Recycled Glass and Stemware lines...not to mention the bunches of options that you will get with organic bedding.

3. Target! I registered at Target. They are partnered with the I Do Foundation, and they have a TON of eco-friendly items...check it out!


A few other places where I found some eco-friendly bedding. (I love bedding...)

Rubie Green

My favorite...not that I pick favorites (by which I mean that I totally pick favorites) Plover Organics

But honestly, you can get some really nice, and super cute, organic bedding at The Pottery Barn!

So that's it...the latest and greatest. And, hey, in case I haven't said it enough...please feel free to let me know if I am missing anything here! I need all the help that I can get!

Say Yes to the Dress...this Friday!

Ok, so yup...my episode is this Friday on TLC at 10pm, soooooooooo tune in!!!

I have to say for the record, that while we were filming, we were joking around, and having a grand old time, but now that this sh*t is actually going to be on TV...I think that I will seriously vomit. (prepare for girly nervous breakdown...) What if I sound silly? Or look awful? Or you can't tell that I was obviously kidding? This is so much more nerve racking than stand-up. (At least then is was SUPPOSED to be a joke.) AHHHHHH!!! Ok, so watch it, and then just tell me that you loved it. (NO MATTER WHAT YOU THINK!!)

Love you guys! (kill me...seriously) LOVE!

Nancy

Treehuggers "Best Of Green!"

Hello All!

Just a quick note to let you know that Treehugger (one of my favorite green blogs) has just come out with the First Annual Best of Green Awards! It has a ton of awesome info on it, so please check out the main page, and do some looking around.

Along the lines of Green Weddings? Well check out the Best Of Green Travel And Nature for fun and interesting ideas on how to have a green honeymoon!

Let me know what you think!

Warning! This post is rated R! (nope, there are no pirates in the post.)

Not sure if you guys read Daily Candy, but I have just read about the newest and most eco friendly way to say, "we are not quite ready for babies" on your wedding night. (Since that will be the first time you will be having sex...ever. Like that kid on the show 18 kids and Counting on TLC)

So if, unlike the Duggars, you are not ready to begin having children right away (and then have one child each year for the next twenty years) Check out this link to Daily Candy today!!!

That's right!!! VEGAN CONDOMS!!! Gotta love it!

My only complaint? They don't come in green...or would that look gross?)

Green Bridal Show!

For those of you who think that this "Green" thing is only in the big cities, check it out: Terrapin Restaurant-an eco concious restaurant and caterer in the Hudson Valley-is hosting a "Green Bridal Show!" To check out the details, click HERE. It is going to feature vendors who are eco friendly, and there will be presentations, nibbles, and a glass of champagne...$10 bucks if you just show up, and Fa-Fa-Fa-FREEE if you register online...getting married in the area? Check it out for the love of Pete! And if you aren't...tell your friends. Or just check out Terrapin! Looks pretty cool, no?

More Honeymoon Ideas

I was "e-thumbing" through one of my favorite green blogs today...while eating lunch of course. I would never be reading a blog while I am supposed to be working. During work hours, I am constantly buzzing away; crossing task after task off my busy bee list of things to do to make more money for my boss. But "during lunch," I occasionally take a quick break to read my favorite blogs. One of them is the ever informative www.treehugger.com. I don't know how I even came upon this little postidy post...as often happens when I am reading and clicking, and reading and clicking, but there it was: the worlds top 5 greenest spas...now if that doesn't sound like a nice way to spend a greenlicious honeymoon, I don't know what does. Check it out: greenlicious spas!

Now, Jimmy and I are not really the type of couple that wants to lay in a steam room, and get rub downs with sea weed; but if you are, there is quite a selection here. Looking for adventure? Try the one in Costa Rico, or the one in Japan! If you are looking to stay close, there is a whole section at the end dedicated to "Honorable Mentions" that are stateside...definitely worth a look. And hey, as this wedding thing progresses...we may decide that the only thing that we CAN do on our honeymoon is to lay in a steam room: (This is one of my favorite pictures of us...when we were filming porn in the 70's...I think that I am going to make it my facebook profile pic...;-)
Don't we look GORGEOUS??!!!

Registry Revelations

Ok,

So I said that I would do it, and I have! I registered with the I Do Foundation!
For those of you who don't remember, here's what the I Do Foundation has to say about themselves:
The I Do Foundation was created in 2002 by a group of nonprofit leaders dedicated to developing new avenues of support for charitable organizations. A public foundation based in Washington, D.C., the I Do Foundation works closely with some of the most effective and renowned nonprofit organizations in the country. Together with our corporate and nonprofit partners, the I Do Foundation links engaged couples with a host of charitable giving options at their wedding.

It is our vision that, in time, charitable giving will become an integral part of the culture of weddings and other life events. By incorporating a charitable focus into life celebrations, we help families establish a pattern of giving that will last a lifetime.

I dig it. But can it be that easy? I am a big believer that the only way to effect change on a large scale is to make it easy and idiot proof. So is this registry idiot proof? Pretty much. This is how it goes:

You have to register your wedding with them. (Just like you would with any of the wedding websites: The Wedding Channel, etc, etc.) Once you do that, you pick which of the partners you want to register with. They have a list, and for each partner they show you what % of each purchase will be donated to the charity of your choice. (ie. cooking.com is 10%, Target is 5% and so on...) Then you pick which ones you would like to register with, and you create your registries with each site. Lastly, you go back in, and pick which charity you want to donate to. (They have some to pick from, but you can pick your own. You can even set up a fund to put aside for future giving.) There are a few cons that I would share with you:

1. The list of Partners isn't super long. If you want to register at Macy's, Bloomingdales, or Tiffany's...they aren't on there. To be fair, you can register with them-and even have a link to it on their site. These gifts simply won't generate any money for donations. In cases like this, I would recommend making a list of what you want to register for, and trying to find them on the partnered sites. Then filling in the gaps on a site that isn't a partner. That way you do as much as you can. :-)

2. It can be tedious to do what I mentioned above. I managed to find what I was looking for by using only partnered sites; but it meant that I had to create 4 registries: signing up for each site, then creating the registry info for each site, then adding the items that I want from that site. If you are persnickety like me; you will then find the same thing for different prices, and have to keep going back to compare, and make sure that you have the cheaper one on your registry...my eyes were crossed...I can't lie!

3. Only online purchases generate donations. Some of your guests may want to go to the store...so this will mean that their gift will not generate a donation...even if it is from a partnered site. Kind of a bummer.

Those were the main concerns for me, but there is one MAJOR pro: Up to 10% of the cost of our gifts is going to be donated to Share Our Strength. Share Our Strength is a national organization that I have had the pleasure of working with on several events. The organization devotes all of it's efforts to ending child hunger in the United States. I have been touched not only by their message, but also by the people who are working within the organization everyday to truly find an end to child hunger. I cannot pretend for one second that my having to enter my name and address a few extra times is a reason to not go this route. In fact now that you know about this...if you are registering, frankly, I cannot find one reason for you to not do this...just do it.

And awaaay we go!

Dear Readers,

So there you have it. The top 10 ways to have an eco friendly wedding. (Feel free to go back and read any that you missed. ;-) Now what? Well...now I plan my wedding of course! I am going to do my best to have the wedding of my dreams, within a reasonable budget, and to follow these tips so that it isn't a wasteful mess!

And I am taking you with me!

So join my blog, and get updates throughout the year to watch the Greenlicious Extravaganza unfold! See you at the church!

~Nancy

Step 10! Happily ever after...

So according to the Sierra Club, the 10th and final way to have a green wedding is to:

Begin your new life with a honeymoon that's light on the Earth. Consider:

~going somewhere local (you're going to be spending a lot of time in that hotel room anyway)
Ok, so...yeah, I am not going to do this one. I want to go somewhere that I would NEVER go unless I had a good excuse to take 2 weeks off from work. I am NOT going to the Poconos, people! And as for the "spending a lot of time in that hotel room..." sure, but let's face it, this isn't the 50's. We have been spending a lot of time in that room for the last three years together..I want to see the world with this man. We will be engaging in plenty of "post marital fun" for sure, but not so much that we won't notice that we are at Beautiful Mount Airy Lodge! So what is my next choice?

~engaging in ecotourism, which can be as rugged or luxurious as you want it to be (find listings that suit your style through Conservation International, National Geographic, Planeta.com, or ResponsibleTravel.com)
This I like...it seems like there might be a lot of interesting options. And as they say, it doesn't have to be in the mountains or something...you can go anywhere and be responsible. On ResponsibleTravel.com, they even have a section for Budget Ideas...check it out.

~taking a trip that benefits an environmental group; perhaps boating in Florida's Dry Tortugas, birding in Alaska, or walking the Italian Alps with Sierra Club Outings
This might be fun...I guess it depends on you as a couple, and what types of vacations seem fun to you...

~skipping the cruise and taking a relaxing, romantic train tripA CHOO CHOO HONEYMOON! This is so romantic and so old school! I love it! It reminds me of my parent's stories of Europe in the 60s. We were talking about this the other day, and are thinking very seriously about getting a Euro-Pass, and just tooling around in Spain or something. (I know that this will still include a trip on an air plane, but see below...)

~getting around at your destination by renting bikes or taking public transportation (the better to enjoy the sights instead of arguing about your spouse's driving habits)
Oh this is a definite! We are New Yorkers, so the public transportation is a no brainer for us. If you are not used to public transportation, I know that it might make you a bit nervous, but give it a chance. You don't know a country and it's people until you know the stink of their subways! (Believe me-I went to Italy in August one time...no air conditioning on those subways. Let's just say that I know Italy. ;-)

~staying in a family-run B&B or inn, a luxury teepee or yurt, or a green hotel that's working to save resources and reduce waste
I have been waiting ever since I first read this list to bust up laughing at this one. I love an Inn or a B & B-our families are staying in them in our hood for the wedding. I am all about a green hotel if you can find one. I am not really sure about the teepee idea-sounds like camping, and people...what in the name of all that is holy is a YURT!!?? ok...let's just figure it out together: according to freedictionary.com:

Noun

1.

yurt - a circular domed dwelling that is portable and self-supporting; originally used by nomadic Mongol and Turkic people of central Asia but now used as inexpensive alternative or temporary housing

oooooook. Now how might I be honeymooning in one of these, you ask? (and I ask?) Again, these are not for everyone, but for those of you who on the out doorsy side there are actually quite a few places where you can find a honeymoon yurt...check out this link for some ideas from the Travel Channel:

YURTS!

~offsetting your trip’s carbon dioxide emissions
This one is definite...as I have mentioned in earlier posts however, I have never done this before. When I do it, I will let you know how it goes...