A Merry Christmas ~ that makes a difference

It is that time again! Holy Moly! It's hard to believe we are in December once again.
Well, as you all know I'm a bit outspoken and strange when it comes to lots of things.
One thing in particular I am pretty outspoken about is... making changes, big changes in how we do things in our lives. In our daily lives and especially during the special times... the Holidays. This is the perfect time to start new traditions and to dump the laim non sustainable ones.
I've decided to make your lives easier by being a guide through this maze of choices. Now keep in mind I'm not going to give you all the directions, just going to get you started in the direction of sustainable & better for your whole family choices.
Alot of you may already be in the sustainable direction. SWEET! You can be advocates too.

We live in a very disposable world here in the United States. We throw out everything, until now...hopefully. I'd like you to think of where things come from, there whole journey. Where they were made, what their made of and how much fuel or energy did it take to get them from point A to point B. hmmm check out the story of stuff www.thestoryofstuff.com for an enlightening journey into that topic.
So, if we are aware of the journey maybe we will start to understand the waste involved in this process of buying so much at Christmas time & what it means for the whole instead of just us in our living rooms on Christmas morning. My family & I are doing a spend nothing Christmas this year. wwwspendnothingchristmas.com this is not because we are broke but, by choice, this Christmas gives us the opportunity to start some new traditions.

Where did this Holiday of grotesque waste and spending come from anyway? I know but I'm not getting onto that soap box right now. I just want you to think about that for a moment... Maybe we could stop being so wasteful and think about the bigger picture for a moment. The feeling you'll get from doing something worthwhile for your family far far out weighs the feeling you'll get from buying them junk that maybe toxic anyway, and could possibly be from a factory where a child slave is starving and living in extreme poverty. Whoa! Ok, not what you want to hear? Well, these are things we need to be thinking about when we are making shopping choices or deciding what to do for our Holidays. Is it sustainable or Not?
What is sustainable? Well, it is a way of life that gives back to the whole. A product that is non-toxic, paid fairly for, made in decent conditions. A way for someone to feel good about what they are doing, in there work and in their lives on a daily basis. It is a way of being that is non-polluting, does not exploit any other human being and gives back in some way. It goes full circle with no bad side effects.
For example: Fair trade items can be made by woman in Africa, not out of toxic substances, they are paid a fair wage for the products they sell, thus they can feed there family & send their children to school. The product is not a plastic piece of junk that ends up in a landfill, or so toxic it's recalled. So the circle is fulfilled. Good going out good coming back. Sustainability! You can get the true definition from the webster if you want. I like mine.

Let's have a little fun, shall we. I'm going to start with our loving tradition of chopping down trees in order to decorate with energy wasting bulbs only to throw them out on the side of the road once they are a fire hazard in January. If you get a live one just sit back and relax. I'll have something for you later.

Some factoids ~
28.2 million Number of real Christmas trees sold in the U.S. in 2008
5.8 pounds of pesticides sprayed on an acre of Christmas trees each year. organic trees go to greenpromise.com/resources
7.3 pounds of plastic mostly polyvinyl chloride, or pvc contained in a typical artificial tree.
1 ton estimated amount of carbon the average conifer tree can absorb over 60 years. livingchristmastrees.org
600,000 approx. number of U.S. homes that could be powered for an entire year with the energy used by decorative lights. Using LEDs, you'll use about 90 % less energy per string. Go to realgoods.com for solar alternatives or philips.com for LEDs
4,000 approx. number of tree recycling centers nationwide. To recycle your tree go to earth911.com to find out where your tree can be composted or turned to mulch.
So, now you have an idea about what I'm saying with the whole start a new Holiday tradition thing. right? Just one change can make a difference over all and it may inspire our friends and family to do something different and sustainable too.

There are some people out there doing some great things, they are called Social Pioneers or Social Entrepreneurs. I'd like you to get in touch with them, to point you in a sustainable shopping direction this season.
One of these wonderful people is Barton Brooks. He wanders the world doing just about anything he can to just get some good things done. He builds schools, hauls wood, builds corals & adds books to libraries. He does what he feels passionate about. He's not afraid to just get in there and get his feet wet. What he does sometimes takes donations, you can make a difference by contributing to his work this season, just because you can. go to globalcolors.org to check out his work and give him a loving hand with his projects. Lord knows we would love to go get involved, sometimes we can't always do that, this is the next best thing.
You can buy beautiful jewelry by Joan Hornig and get 100 percent of your purchase to go to a charity of your choice. joanhornig.com
You can purchase a product from a fabulous social euntreprenuer Patti Carpenter, who is changing the woman's lives in Brazil buy selling there handmade textiles. carpentercompany.biz
There is a Liberian refugee named Lovetta Conto who is taking munitions from the streets of waring Liberia and turns them into beautiful pieces you can wear. The proceeds go toward a home for refugees in Ghana. akawelle.com
Now that's Sustainable!

Here are some other sustainable ideas and products to keep you on track this Holiday season ~
Looking for wine that is sustainable for that party of just to sip while curled up with a good book this Holiday? Check out these sustainable choices
French Rabbit an organic vintner who boxes instead of bottles there wine because it uses less energy to ship boxed wine. frenchrabbit.com and Fetzer Vineyards in Mendincino County, a zero waste winemaker. sweet! fetzer.com
For the beer drinkers check out organic Wolaver's Organic Ales wolavers.com
For your meat selections this year check out and buy for certain ~ Pastured meat versus factory farmed. For the best bet shop local always for food.
Otherwise D'Artagnan dartagnan.com, Organic Prairie organicprairie.coop, or Applegate Farms applegatefarms.com are great choices.
Chocolate ~ Yes! Anytime of year but, especially for the Holidays! check your local grocer for Equal Exchange chocolate or Fairtrade. No child labor chocolate people!
Most Cocoa comes from the Ivory Coast of West Africa, were children are forced to pick pesticide-laden crops. Give something that makes you feel good because of the chocolate and because of where the chocolate come from ~ Equal Exchange is BEST!
equalexchange.coop Read the labels and make some good choices.
And for that fashionista on your list or next time your shopping for something you need. Check out these great choices. No need to go green, wardrobe crazy, just choose better next time you absolutely need something. Get it sustainable and start to slowly change your closet into a healthy and heartfilled place.
Choose better fibers ~ Bamboo, Hemop, INGEO Corn Fiber, Modal from Beech trees, or organic cotton. Non organic is made by a hugely toxic system from start to finish.
Here's a List of designers and companies going sustainable or making better choices~
loomstate.org
delforte.com
goodsociety.org
lindaloudermilk.com
denimtherapy.com recycled denim!
edunonline.com for the Rocker in all of us!
loyaleclothing.com
rawganique.com for a formal evening
Be a conscious consumer. Less is more ~ buy fewer things of higher quality to get the most for your money and to conserve the planets resources.
Do some research before you buy and find out where your clothes are coming from.
Now for the Holiday Glam check out some alternatives!
paint your nails with this instead of toxic sludge. peacekeeper nail polish in fantastic shades! iamapeacekeeper.com
or sparitual.com sparitual nail polish hmmm enlightening!
Clean, moisturize and glow with this ~ Jurlique fantastic on & off your skin! jurlique.com Not cheap but, a wonderful alternative.
Burt's Bees is another or try Juice Beauty Products juicebeauty.com
For lips check out Perfect Organic or
Cargo Plantlove Botanical lipsticks
For your beautiful peepers check out NVEY ECO at econveybeauty.com

Do you feel enlightened? A little more aware? Hope so.
That's my intention.
Please do what you can to be awake and aware this Holiday season and make some choices that make a difference instead of the status quo.
We can feel better and live better do to our choices and we do influence others in out choices too!
So, this Holiday my one wish is that we all are awake making choices to be a part of this planet instead of beings just hanging out here for awhile.
We have a responsibility to be conscious for our children and educate them in order for them to make conscious decision as well.
And please, do me a huge favor and ask yourself ~ Is it ok for me to not buy this Holiday? To just Be this Holiday? Be with my family, Be happy just being and to take a look around at all we do Have. Will anyone die with out our presents? Will they care about them in a month? in a year? In 10 minutes? If not...Just say no! If yes, then of course we would want them to have something, sustainable, healthy and that does some good for ALL! After all isn't what this Holiday is ALL about! All of us! Living in love and peace due to a star somewhere in a sky?
Here's to a Fabulous, Sustainable, Joyous Holiday!
p.s. Could not have a heartfelt Holiday without saying Heifer International is the Bomb! Just say yes to buying a cow, a chicken or rabbits in someone else's name!

xoxoxo

ECO-FRIENDLY TOYS FOR THE TYKES

I've been requested to get some great eco-friendly toy shopping options so, here's to you, mom doing her best to stay earth friendly focused this Holiday Season.
So, if your not going for the BUY NOTHING option, here a few great places to get info and shop in a one world manner.

For starters:
I'd like to point you to an interesting site Consumer Reports~ Green Choices www.consumerreports.com than type in green choices.
This site is for those of us wanting info on products that make a difference.

I'll start with my top three and than go from there:
1. www.planethappytoys.com~ Great site with a large variety of toys for all ages.
2.www.kangarooboo.com
3.www.fatbraintoys.com

For sweet, eco little kids dishes and tea sets go to www.greentoys.com
For some adorable plush toys got to www.idbids.com or www.ecozenboutique.com

For baby items go to www. babybunz.com or www.baby organics.com
Some other great options are www.imagiply.com or coming soon earthtokid.com
Also, Target has some great shopping options now. Just search for Gifts with a cause at Target.com

And for all round wonderful, eco-friendly & healthy gifts for mom, kids or anyone for that matter go to www.gaiam.com

Remember to breath, stay focused and have fun while doing your decision making & shopping this Season. And most of all remember it's the heart & thought that counts. So, save some pennies and spend time with your loved ones instead.

Namaste~

If you Love your bike...You'll Love this

Project Rwanda
This Project makes it possible for Coffee growers to get the most out of their yields
by providing The "Coffee Bike"
Check it out at www.projectrwanda.org
Mr. Ritchey has been on the bike scene for sometime and what he's doing in Rwanda is the best stuff he's done yet. Maybe you love your bike so much you'd like to get involved? Maybe Mr. Ritchey will inspire you to do some Great Works.
Just do yourself a favor and see this wonderful site and get a real perspective on life. We have it so damn good...or do we?
Namaste~

Conscious Giving or not Giving for this Holiday Season

Ok, lovely human beings~

Here is a helpful concious gift giving Guide:

* Ashaimports.com is a wonderful place to buy for mom or girlfriends. All proceeds go to women who's alternative is selling their bodies on the streets... need I say more?

*Check out Gaim.com for a huge array of gifts for anyone.
*serrv.org is a terrific alternative to the crap you can get just anywhere. They offer Fairtrade items supporting people around the world.

*globalgiving.com is a fantastic way to give gifts from all around the world, they even have gift certificates you can send via e-mail.

*Let's not forget Heifer.org. Heifer International is near and dear to my heart. They have been doing good work for a long time.

*Get Fabulous ideas for making, and doing this Christmas at newdream.org

For those of you who are of a more Radical Nature there is...
BUY NOTHING CHRISTMAS. To be a part of a new movement to change how we are being in this world, check out buynothingchristmas.org They have lots of ideas for alternatives to spending this Christmas. There are resources, books, discussions you can download, for you & your family to make the transition easier. They have posters to put up in support & to start conversations in your home or otherwise. This was started in Canada by a religious group with a great reason to change our thinking about this beautiful time of year.

So, hopefully I've given you enough great ideas to get you out of the box and doing some real, beautiful, conscious, giving this Season
Namaste~

P.S. Let's not forget about BUY NOTHING DAY! November 28th. buynothing.org We don't have to listen to the media & go to crowded malls and try and get a good deal on crap we don't need. We can stay home, read, play a game with our children, go on a walk outside, have a conversation...instead.

MORSBAGS~ REVOLUTION IN A TOTEBAG

Want to make a Big change in a small and easy way? Than start a Morsbag group! REVOLUTION IN A TOTEBAG!
Yep, you can start a revolution right in your back yard! All it takes is some recycled fabric a sewing machine and some friends. So, if you can get those things together, you've got yourself a full blown REVOLUTION.

If you haven't heard yet or if your just not in the know quite yet,

PLASTIC BAGS SUCK!

They are choking water ways, habitats and just plain disgusting!
Businesses have been using these hideous things for far to long and our ignorance to their damage has been ignored for to long...until now.
You can do a huge service to our environment and or future by doing a small thing...
Make a bag...give it to someone... and ask them to NEVER use a Plastic bag again in exchange for this wonderful, simple thing... a handmade miracle!

Give me a call if you'd like to join me or for more information just go to these great sites to see what's going on with this slow growing REVOLUTION.

MORSBAGS

PEOPLE MAKING A DIFFERENCE LOCALLY

ONE MANS QUEST TO REDUCE TRASH

Heifer International

One of my most Favorite and an Organization I feel is making a real difference on this planet is Heifer International. They believe that by teaching a community to fish you can feed so many more than if you give a community a fish.
Take a closer look and the next time you have a Birthday, Graduation and especially Christmas think about a community who can benefit from your gift of a milking goat, a gaggle of geese for eggs or a family of rabbits for protein. This is a wonderful organization who truly understands the concept of enough.

Namaste~

Enough is Enough

I've been reading this Wonderful book by: Lynn Twist
We live in a world, particulary us in the U.S. of not enough. There is always something more to buy, better gadgets, bigger Christmas presents.
What Lynn suggests in her book and I fully agree is that there is a point when we need to start taking stock and learn that we have enough, there is plenty for everyone and there is more than enough to go around.
We must change our thinking though, in order to really get this concept we must dig deep and reprogram ourselves to understand that we are not in lack... There is Plenty.
When did we learn it was ok to want to much? To have so much it's never enough.
This void we are trying to fill can Never be filled with things, Ever!

WE live in a society with to much food... to much clothing... to much gas guzzling... to much violence... to much television watching... to many obese kids...To Much STUFF!
I believe this comes from a lack of internal wealth.
When you feel You are enough and know there is enough you no longer need to get more!

There are people who get by on a very small amount everyday all over the world and here we sit with not enough? If we spent 1/4 of our wealth on spreading enough we would make a huge impact on this planet.
Shopping at Walmart for the cheaper stuff...we don't need? We wouldn't need cheap stuff if we didn't feel we needed so much. We could chose high quality over quantity.

Lynn also talks about changing the Dream as a Nation. I quote " The times call for honest conversation and self-examination as we see the true costs of our national consumer appetite and our reputation as arrogant, gluttonous consumers by so much of our global community. We can take a stand, change the dream, and shift the conversation to enough".
Do we want to live in a you and me world or a you or me world? That is the real question and one that Lynn addresses in this book.
I think we want a you and me world. We know this is the only way to continue together on this planet.

We do have enough on this planet for us All to live a wonderful life, we just need to remember that this is not just Our planet it is Billions of people's planet and we need to understand that Enough is Enough.