Go Green: Tips for an Eco-friendly Children's Birthday Party

Celebrating an eco-friendly birthday can be loads of fun and cost next to nothing. All it takes is a little thought and planning.

Once you and your child (assuming he/she's old enough), have chosen a theme, look at each aspect of the event: decor, food, activities and gifts, and ask yourself the following questions. (We're talking about children's birthdays here, but the same principles apply no matter the age of the honoree.)

1. Can I reuse or re-purpose items I already own for decor?
Avoid purchasing paper goods like tablecloths, even napkins. If you're crafty, take a plain white sheet and color in animals, pirates, tea cups or whatever matches your theme, or visit a thrift store and see if they have some fabric that could be used. The most practical solution for napkins is washcloths. If you don't have enough, you can pick up a dozen for less than $10 in many discount stores. These can be used as every day napkins until they totally deteriorate at which time they transform nicely into dust rags.

For table decorations, check your house, especially your child's room, assuming it's her party. Among her toys, we bet you can find enough items related to the party theme to create a unique tablescape. If she's old enough, she can set it up on her own.

There's no need for conventional balloons which, unless disposed of properly, can be a threat to wildlife and also post a choking hazard to children. Instead, make a few pinatas with recycled paper and fill them with some healthy treats or treasures.

2. What can we eat that everyone will enjoy but that's healthier than the usual birthday fare?

Avoid planning a full meal. Much of the food goes to waste as kids are notoriously picky or just too excited to eat. Instead, lay a table with a choice of healthier snacks (depending on children's ages), like raisins, peanut butter (be sure to ask parents beforehand whether their children are free of allergies), fruit, 100% fruit leathers, or organic "bars." Instead of juice or soda, put out pitchers of cold filtered water, homemade lemonade, or if it's a winter birthday, how about making real organic hot chocolate?

When it comes to the cake, save money and create something healthier by making one yourself. It's not that difficult or time consuming. If you have a small group, donning chef hats and making the cake can be a fun part of the celebration.

Another option for do-it-yourself fun is cookie baking and decorating. Individually decorated cookies make great no-waste party favors. Be sure to set out a container for composting leftovers.

3. Do we really have to haul the gang to an amusement park, restaurant or skating rink to enjoy a memorable party?
The answer is absolutely not! Think about what your kids love doing daily. For instance, one four-year-old we know lives and breathes hide 'n seek. Why shouldn't her party involve several variations on the game? Not only can all the partygoers play, but how about hide 'n seek with some gifts, both for the birthday girl and the guests? Or why not hide and seek for objects instead of people?

If your child loves animals, call your local 4H club and see if a teenager will bring a rabbit or other animal for the children to learn about and pet.

We're betting that no matter what your child enjoys, he'll love integrating activities based on his passion into the party.

Neither of ideas the above costs a penny. And remember that when you focus on the child instead of the event, magic can happen.

4. How do we take the focus off gifts?
At the same time parents may decry our nation's emphasis on overconsumption, they equate a great birthday (or Christmas or Halloween for that matter), with giving and receiving lots of stuff. But more people are beginning to believe that children's birthday parties, especially the gift giving parts, have gotten out of control. Parents and children alike, are starting to look at the whole gift giving idea in a new light. Some parents are asking for gently used or homemade (by the guest, not the parent)items. Others are opting out of asking other children to bring gifts to parties, while keeping family gift giving intact. Many have started donating to charities in the child's name, or a combination of these ideas. For a terrific list of alternatives, visit http://www.birthdayswithoutpressure.org/.

The birthday child isn't the only one who is showered with gifts, though. At many events, tiny guests return home laden with so many items, you'd think it was their birthday! Downsizing prizes and party favors is not difficult. Every game does not have to have a winner who is rewarded with a trinket. How about making a craft project the centerpiece of the party, with the children taking home what they make? Even better,donate the projects to a children's hospital.
Birthday parties should be fun for everyone and there is no reason to create waste and shower anyone with carloads of stuff. Instead, aim to create a memorable event that focuses on simple pleasures.

For more simply green children's birthday ideas, check out this post.

Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and co-authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, available at www.CelebrateGreen.net

3 Cool Ways To Green Your Reading Habit

If you’ve started feeling painfully guilty every time you buy a new book (all those trees!), or you’re looking for thrifty ways to save money when it comes to your reading habit, then you’re in luck. I’ve got some suggestions on how you can make your book obsession a bit more eco-friendly.

I’m first looking at Swap Sites, and then we’ll be diving into the wonderful world of Kindle. Lastly, I’m looking at several sites you can download books for free. So, let’s get reading!

Fast Facts On The Trees Used To Make Books

Planet Green, a Discovery company, had these fascinating but sobering facts on the consequences of our book buying habits.

• There is a book published somewhere in the world every 30 seconds.

• One tree will provide enough paper for only 116 averaged sized books.

• It takes 4.4 gallons of water to produce one book.

• For every ton of recycled paper that’s used in a book, 24 trees are saved.

I’m not a math whiz, but when you do the numbers on this it’s mind boggling. For instance, how many trees do the major best sellers go through? I found one stat online that said a 250 page book that sells one million copies will need over 12,000 trees.

And, that’s just for that one title.

So, it’s easy to see why buying brand new print books might not be the greenest option. In fact, after finding those stats out I’m not sure I can walk into a bookstore and look at it in the same way ever again. Sigh.

Anyway, we’ve got some eco-friendly options here: Swap sites, the Kindle, and free downloads. Let’s start with book swap sites.

What The Heck Is A Book Swap Site?

A swap site is an online community of users who swap books (or cds, or dvds) with each other to keep from having to buy them brand new. They’re frugal, green, and pretty exciting (after all, who doesn’t love getting free books in the mail?)

Swap sites are only for books you don’t want back. After all, you’re mailing your books out to people who can keep them, or swap them with others if they want. You’ll never see it again once you send it out.

Here’s how it works: on the swap site, you list all the books you’re willing to give away. Next, you make a wish list of books you’d like to read.

The site then starts searching for you. They locate people who want to read the books you’ve got, and also find others who have the books you want.

Most sites work on a point system. That is, for every three books you mail out to someone else you get one point. Most books cost one or two points. This is going to be different on every book swap site, of course, but that seems to be the average from what I found online.

And that’s it. You mail your book out to someone, and get a book from someone else in return. All you pay for is the postage. Everyone benefits.

Swap Site Resources

Think you’d like to try using a swap site? Here are a few to get you started:

• Swap Tree

• Paperback Swap

• Book Mooch

• Title Trader

• What’s On My Bookshelf

• BookIns

• Frugal Reader

How I Greened Up My Own Reading Habit With A Kindle

I love books. I was an avid reader as a kid, and am an avid reader as an adult. This means that my library used to be completely and utterly out of control. I don’t know how many books I had (I never really did a master count), but it was a lot.

Since I fell in love with micro home living last year, however, I realized that 95% of my book collection was going to have to go. After all, if you’re living in a home that’s less than 500 square feet there’s just no room for hundreds of books.

So last year I began the heart-wrenching, emotionally traumatizing process of donating most of my books to the Carnegie District Library in Howell.

It’s been a long process, and I’m still not done. After all, if you love books then you know how difficult a process like this can be. I didn’t know about swap sites until just a few months ago, so I was unable to utilize that amazing resource. On the upside, however, my local library got the books, so I’m happy about that.

So, how have I greened up my own reading habits?

Well, I’m definitely not buying new books, that’s for sure. Now that I’m aware of just how many trees and energy go into producing one brand new book, I’ve sworn off new bookstores for good.

Instead, last summer I invested in a Kindle.

Kindle: Amazon’s Wireless Reading Device

Why The Kindle Is A Great Investment

Let me start out by saying that I love my Kindle. In fact, love might be an understatement. I adore my Kindle.

There are several reasons why buying a Kindle is a good idea if you’re looking to go green.

The first is the obvious one: you no longer have to buy paper books. You’re not using any resources to support your reading habit. All books are delivered wirelessly to your Kindle, which means no more trees will die because of your obsession. For me, this was a huge, huge perk to investing in a Kindle.

Secondly, the Kindle stores 200 books. This means if you’re interested in micro home living, or simply saving space in general, you don’t have to worry about not having anything to read because there’s no room for your library. All you need is your Kindle. Also, it’s important to realize that the Kindle stores 200 at a time. You can actually have more stored in your Amazon account or on your laptop. You can take them off or put them on your Kindle at any time.

Thirdly, depending on your reading habits, a Kindle can be surprisingly frugal.

I know, I can see your eyes popping from here. Yes, the Kindle is $359. And in today’s economy, I know that’s a steep price tag. But if you love reading older books, like the classics, then you can get some great bargains. Over the long term, a Kindle will probably pay for itself.

To prove my point, here are my last five purchases that I’ve made on my Kindle:

1. Les Miserables- Victor Hugo $.99
2. The Awakening- Kate Chopin $3.96
3. Wuthering Heights- Emily Bronte $.99
4. The Secret Garden- Francis Hodgson Burnett $1.50
5. The Princess Bride- William Goldman $6.40

Almost all the books available on Kindle, even the new releases, are less than $10. And the classics, as you can see, are often less than $2.

Reading the classics is what I love best, so for me I’m saving money buying them through my Kindle. And unless Stephanie Meyer comes out with a part 5 to add to my current Edward Cullen, “Twilight” obsession, I won’t be buying many, if any, brand new books.

Note to Stephanie Meyer: Please oh please come out with a Part 5…

Green Your Reads With Free E-Books

Think you can’t get something for nothing anymore? Think again. There are several ways you can get free books online, if you know where to look.

My favorite is Project Gutenburg. They’ve got over 27,000 titles online, free for the download. Here’s my master list of free book download sites:

• Project Gutenburg

• Ebook.com

• FreeBooks.org

• ManyBooks.net

• World Public Library

Last Word

Books are completely wonderful. After all, where else can you spend one day living the life of a 12-year old girl growing up on the streets of Brooklyn in 1912, and then the next day experience the life of a peasant in post-revolution France?

Books allow us all to see the world from other people’s shoes. They help us develop empathy and compassion, and take us to places we’d never get to see otherwise. They open up the world, and all the mysteries it has to offer.

It is possible to love books, and read them voraciously, without harming the environment at the same time. I don’t know where the future of books is heading, but if I had my guess I’d put my bets on digital formatting. It makes sense in every way; it’s cheaper, takes up far less space, and doesn’t use resources to produce.

The downside? Digital formatted ebooks lack the romance that a traditional paper book holds. I know all too well the distinct pleasure of curling up with a hefty book and a soft blanket. It’s a luxury I’ll never be able to fully give up.

The Kindle comes close to recreating that intimacy between reader and book. I still feel “connected” through my Kindle, a connection that is completely lacking when I read a book on my laptop. But, that’s just me.

I hope the resources I’ve put out here at least give you some options for greening up your reading habit. After all, one less book bought by thousands of people really adds up!

A great post brought to you by Heather Levin, TheGreenestDollar.com

Frugal Tip Tuesday: Tennis Balls Don't Help Static Cling

I tried a little frugal experiment yesterday. I was reading about these static cling balls that can be used (and reused) to replace fabric softener sheets. Sounds great, right? It's inexpensive, convenient and, best of all, green. Then I read an article that says a brand new tennis ball will also do the trick. I'm intrigued and decide to test this tennis ball theory.

After trying to explain to my husband why there's a tennis ball banging around in the dryer, I get out the first load of clothes. I'm fairly impressed. The clothes seemed less wrinkled than usual. But the next load of laundry contained the ultimate test -- knee-high pantyhose. Any woman knows that knee-highs are a static nightmare. It's also the main reason that I use fabric softener -- so my husband doesn't have a knee-high stuck to the back of his dress shirt while teaching high school history.

Back to the test.

I throw the tennis ball into the load and check back in 40 minutes to find...more static cling than ever! Ugh, the crinkling sound of clothes sticking together just makes me cringe. Then the static cling migrates to my hair. As I'm folding the clothes, I realize that I'm down one knee-high -- a fishnet one, no less. Hopefully one of my hubby's students won't find it.

Needless to say, stick to the fabric softener balls or sheets. Save the tennis balls for tennis.

Book Review: Your Money or Your Life

A Great Read for the Green and Frugal
As a New York Times bestseller with reviews that include "life-changing," "...offers a more meaningful, fulfilling life," ...could be the single most important book you ever read," I couldn't help but check it out. It was a fairly quick read, with a focus on transforming your relationship with money so you can focus on the most important things in your life, like family, charitable work and relaxing.

Essentially money is equal to life energy. Given the amount of time we spend working and the amount of time we spend on earth, it's about maximizing what's most valuable. The program is work, but offers some enlightening theories on money (how we spend and why) and, interestingly, the focus is not on budgeting. Now nearly ever personal finance book I've read is always about budgeting, money in should always be more than money out. Your Money or Your Life has you assess exactly what goes in and out, whether or not it's important and how you can make changes that will benefit your life.

In terms of how this book fits into GreenandFrugalLiving.com, it discusses your own sustainability as well as the earth's. By shrinking your resources (i.e., your stuff, junk, clutter), there are numerous opportunities to make money by selling or trading your things.

I sometimes obsess about money and am driven to constantly save a good amount. I like this book because the basic premise is to think differently about money. It's more of a means to an end versus the lifeblood of a family. Your Money or Your Life deals with how to neutrally manage your money and what money means to you. The key, or ultimate goal, is to be financially independent and not be crippled by money, or lack thereof.

Based upon the nine core steps of the book, you really need to read it through once and then go back and take action. That's the point I'm at right now. The first step is to figure out how much money you've made in your lifetime. I've never really thought about it. But as someone who's been working since 1986, I'm looking forward to seeing what that number could be.

Anyway, I'll keep you posted on my progress. Beginning today, we're going to track every single penny that comes in and every penny that is spent. That is a challenge unto itself. Most people have a general idea of where their money goes, but as always, the devil is in the details.

If anyone has read Your Money or Your Life and has implemented the steps, I'd love to hear about it!

I'll be posting updates, aptly called "Your Money or Your Life Mondays." Stay tuned...

Searching for Green?

Are you looking for a certain green product, service or social network? Look no further than the original green search engine -- www.greengamma.com.

Green Search
You can either search by using a Google-based, open-text search box or by scrolling the various categories in their directory, which includes new website listings and the most popular. GreenGamma.com's goal is to try and make purchasing green products and services as easy as possible. Best of all, GreenGamma reviews every website listed on both the directory and the search feature, so you know you're dealing with top-quality companies and content.

If you're looking for cleaning products, building materials, alternative energy, transportation or a variety of other unique, green products and services, visit Greengamma.com for your search.

Did I mention their "The Green Wave Newsletter?" If you like their site, you'll love their newsletter. I just got my first issue and it's chock full of great tips, green companies and "GreenGamma Stuff."

Check out www.greengamma.com today...y0u'll be glad you did!

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