Eco-friendly bridesmaid gifts
We were inspired this week when a customer searching for something different to give her bridesmaids picked up these adorable recycled paper wristlets from Engage Green.
What a great idea! Here are a few more suggestions for affordable, green gifts that are a great thank you for your girls.
Made with recycled silver, Dogeared’s Make a Wish necklaces make a thoughtful gift that will compliment any bridesmaid dress.
Greenmarket girl’s eco-cuffs are both eco-friendly and extremely stylish, they turn heads and prompt a ton of “Where did you get that bracelet?” questions.
Nikita Lynn’s signature hand-blocked motif print wallet made with eco-friendly cotton is a green option that every girl can use.
If you are shopping for something different than a typical monogrammed whatever to give your bridesmaids, consider selecting an eco-friendly gift that serves as a happy reminder of your special day and friendship.
Find your zen in style – recycled yoga bags
I find that I am always more motivated to go to the gym when I have a new outfit to wear or bag to take with me. My new Yogoco recycled yoga mat bag has been just the trick to push me towards more pilates classes. Amazingly, 70% of this bag is made from the discarded scraps of the t-shirt manufacturing process.
Scraps from the T-shirt making process are collected, sorted by color and blended. This significantly reduces incinerator and landfill use. The cotton fibers require no new dying, saving on water while adding no new pollutants. Furthermore, as no new cotton is grown, there is no land use, no water intensive irrigation and no fertilizers or pesticides used.
The resulting cotton-like fabric has an organic feel and is used as the fabric in the large mat section of the Yogoco recycled yoga mat bag, as well as much of the towel section and piping.
These beautiful bags come in six different designs with vibrant colors and patterns putting you in the mood to find your inner peace and your toes. Take a look at the entire Yogoco recycled yoga mat bag collection - see you on the mat!
Make a stand against big oil – at home
We are all sick about the situation in the Gulf. If you can’t trade in your SUV for a Prius or you aren’t able to carpool to work or take mass transit, here are a few changes that everyone can make at home to cut down on our oil consumption.
Change your household cleaning products and personal care products to non-petroleum based alternatives. I am amazed at how much petroleum is in the products that we use in our homes everyday. Here are a few examples:
* Liquid laundry detergent – If every household switched one 100 oz. bottle to a non-petroleum based detergent we would save 466,000 barrels of oil.
* Trash bags – If every household replaced one package of 20 count drawsting trash bags with recycled trash bags we would save 39,000 barrels of oil -courtesy of Seventh Generation
After you change your cleaning products, take a look at your bathroom counter.
* Switch to natural lip balms. Name-brand balms are made from petroleum products, which harm the environment during production
* Using lotions made from natural plant-based ingredients, they are helathier for your skin and keeps non-renewable resources out of your medicine cabinet
Check out the Good Guide to see how your favorite brands rate and find some great alternatives. Remember that small steps make a big difference!
Calling all hippies! You are back in style, man
The true definition of a hippie? Long hair, peace-loving, tie-dye? How about this one –
hippie – “a person, who rejects established institutions and values, seeks spontaneity, direct personal relations expressing love, and expanded consciousness…”
Alright man, we dig it! Thanks to our friends at modern hippie mag for redefining the word.
Modern hippie mag is a collection of writers that contribute great articles and insight about the green movement. They offer sustainable living tips, new green product information and healthy living ideas from a dozen different contributors. Natural Luxe was lucky enough to chat with co-founder Jaszy McAllistar and give her the inside scoop on why we started the company and why we love it so much.
We couldn’t pass up the opportunity for a giveaway open to modern hippie mag’s readers. Check them out and enter today!
Mar y Sol fairtrade handbags
What has your handbag done for the world lately?
Well, if it carries the Mar y Sol label it has helped families to gain economic independence and helped to promote environmental conservation. These colorful handmade raffia handbags from Madagascar & Kenya enable women to provide for their families and have the opportunity to send their children to school instead of work.
By incorporating renewable raw materials to create their original clutches, totes and shoulder bags they are leaving a greener footprint. Mar y Sol handbags can be seen in O Magazine, Lucky, Glamour and Marie Claire.
Welcome summer with one of their raffia clutches, they are a must have for the season!
In search of – cool reusable coffee mugs
We love that everyday more people consider making their morning cup of coffee at home to save money or bring their cup with them to their local coffee shop to save the planet. The problem is finding a cool reusable coffee cup that you want to take with you. Most of the ones we have found our plain or covered with a corporate logo; or they are made of plastic that make our coffee taste horrible.
The search is over – we have found cool reusable coffee mugs made by Vessel Drinkware. Made of double-walled porcelain, these cups don’t require a coffee sleeve and my coffee tastes great. Add in the fact that they are dishwasher and microwave safe and the designs are cute, cool and a little funky – we are sold.
If you take a mug to your local coffee shop instead of using a to go cup, you will save 2555 trees every single year – pretty amazing. A lot of stores are now offering small discounts if you bring your own cup too.
Mother’s Day green gift guide
Mother’s Day is just around the corner; skip the flowers this year and get Mom something unique and eco-chic! We’ve made it easy for you with our Mother’s Day green gift guide and free USPS shipping anywhere in the US with orders of $35 or more.
Here are a few of our favorite eco-chic gifts at Natural Luxe ~
Mudlark Papers Lola stationery gift set
Engage Green recycled paper traveler bag
Blue Avocado reusable shopping bag starter kit
Rebagz recycled rice sack clutch handbag
We hope that this gives you a few fresh ideas to celebrate Mom this year!
Earth Month 2010
Natural Luxe has partnered with Aveda to try and change this statistic. During the month of April, Aveda stores across the country will host special events to raise money for Global Greengrants and The Land Conservancy. All money raised will be used to protect our clean drinking water and promote water conservation.
At our local Aveda Lifestyle store, we have set up a display of eco-chic handbags, one of which will go home with a lucky raffle winner. It’s little steps that lead to bigger ones, we are priviledged to lend a hand in Aveda’s fundraising efforts. If you are in the Charlotte area please visit their store in the SouthPark Mall and spend a few dollars to support Earth Month 2010
Energy Smart Charlotte – everything green in the queen city
We love websites that make our life easier, here’s another one in our favorites; Energy Smart Charlotte.
It’s a one stop shop for everything green in the beautiful Queen City of Charlotte, North Carolina. Green businesses, services and events are now easier to find. Their mission is to promote a greener, smarter, healthier Charlotte by connecting Charlotteans with the knowledge of who is really green in their neighborhood.
Feel free to submit an article or list a business that is not already a member and Energy Smart Charlotte will do the rest. Next time you are ready to shop, take a yoga class or need plans for the weekend, stop by their site to see what is going on in the world of “green”.
Natural Luxe is excited to be one of the first Green Retail stores listed in the Charlotte directory!
Now that’s Fierce!
Combine original artwork, organic cotton and babies and you get Fierce Hugs.
Started by friends Tina Fusari and Hani Hong, Fierce Hugs is a welcome alternative to the world of cutesy baby clothes. The bright colors and fun graphics stand out from the crowd, paired with organic cotton and made with fair-trade labor Fierce Hugs is on it’s way to securing a spot on the must have list for babies.
Fierce Hugs commissioned Italian artist Silvia Osella to design the graphics for their spring and summer line. She came up with prints that are both whimsical and edgy, a perfect addition to a green baby’s wardrobe.
We love the unique designs but we also were struck by the gift ready eco-friendly packaging. Cute and convenient!
Natural Luxe is excited to offer Fierce Hugs online and in our Charlotte location. We think you will love them too!
