November 2008

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Photo by pouch_designs.

This is Thanksgiving week, and I know many of my readers are likely looking forward to Black Friday, well known as one of the biggest shopping days of year. Black Friday typically brings great deals, and green retailers and products are no exception. But bear in mind, if you trying to green your lifestyle, don’t get caught up in the mass consumerism Black Friday brings. Buy only what you need, and don’t shop just because you find something that’s a good deal. I’ve been waiting until this weekend to buy some of the products I’ve been needing so I can take advantage of discounts. Without further adieu, here are some great green deals and coupons for Black Friday:

I’ve been missing in action for a few days due to our move, but trust me when I tell you I haven’t been idle. Today’s giveaway is one that will make someone’s holiday season just a little bit brighter, and hopefully, a lot greener.

Nickelodeon and Walmart have teamed up to offer a holiday tips contest hosted by the ElevenMoms. I don’t know about you, but Nickelodeon was one of my favorite networks when I was growing up. Who can forget the slime in “You Can’t Do That on Television?” And right now, my daughter loves the shows on Noggin and Nick Jr., so I’m very thankful for this great prize for one of my readers. So what does the winner get?

First, I want to thank everyone for all your well wishes on my move. There were some bumps along the way, but at least the hardest part is over.

And of course, moving to a new place means I get to decorat — I am loving every second of it. In the few days that we’ve been in Tennessee, we have basically gutted two rooms of everything in them and started over. We’ve painted (more on that later this week) and furnished, mostly with items we already had.

We were supposed to be moving today, but it isn’t going quite as planned. In fact, we’re pretty much stuck right now. So I’m trying to make the best of the situation, but it’s a bit hard to see the forest for the trees at the moment.  I’ll leave you with some great green reads for your weekend and hopefully I’ll be back to my regular posting next week:

From the Blogosphere & News-o-sphere:

• 12 Fun DIY Projects for the Chic Green Geek {ecosalon}
• Company of the Week: FGX. Ship Greener. Ship Direct {lu-n-am}

I believe that the things a person chooses to have around them, in their home and elsewhere, are a reflection of who that person is. Because we haven’t been living in our own space for quite some time now, my husband and I look around and don’t see very many reflections of ourselves in our surroundings. There are the photos on the wall — but not much else. We’re hoping that this move to a new state also means a new start, and I intend to put my stamp on our space as much as possible.

I have made no secret of my adoration for Gaiam. The company was included as one of my top 10 online resources for eco-friendly decorating and I have featured their products on numerous occassions, including quite a few showings in my Green Rooms in a Box series. Today, I have the pleasure of welcoming Gaiam as a sponsor of Green Your Decor.

Gaiam is a company with unquestionable ethics and one of too few retailers you can patronize without wondering about the quality, safety or eco-credentials of the products you are buying. And while I focus on home decor here, Gaiam is no one-trick pony. You can also find other products to support your eco-lifestyle, from apparel to yoga gear.

When I see a beautiful piece of furniture, my emotions take over and I can’t help myself — I wind up lusting after it. Thankfully, I’ve learned to wait a few minutes until I calm down, or I’d be up to my eyeballs in debt from furniture and home decor purchases. After a little while, my green side kicks in and reminds me that buying things I don’t need only contributes to the overconsumerism that threatens to turn this nation — and in fact the world — into a giant landfill. Doesn’t stop me from looking, though

This holiday season, eco-friendly is the way to go! Everywhere you look these days, there’s something “green” - from clean-running hybrid cars to hardwood bedroom furniture made from sustainably harvested forests. I guess it’s fitting that the color “green” is one of the colors that’s synonymous with the holiday season (along with red)! In keeping with the holiday tradition of “giving back,” here are the top 5 eco-friendly holiday trends this year. This is a preview of the “Green Christmas” series I’m planning for upcoming weeks.

1.) Eco-Friendly Christmas Trees:

My husband can, and will, attest to my undying love for candles. So when I first found out about the toxins that are realeased when traditional, petroleum-based paraffin candles are burned, I was more than a little disappointed, not to mention worried about the number of candles we’ve burned over the years.

Lucky for me and my eco-savvy readers, companies are taking notice to green consumers’ concerns and developing healthier alternatives. The Chesapeake Bay Candle Co. is one of these companies. In addition to their standard offerings, they have created Pure & Natural candle line that uses soy wax, lead-free cotton wicks and recycled packaging.

I never, ever thought I would want to decorate with a beanbag chair. I’ve never found them attractive — not even in kids’ rooms. But leave it to Pottery Barn to create a beautifully designed room around a beanbag that makes me want to do a total 180. I am really loving this Bean Bag Sectional from PBteen. And what makes it even more beautiful is the fact that it is covered in organic cotton canvas and filled with 100% recycled fill.

There are a bunch of pieces to choose from, so you can get whatever fits in your space. Here are some of the configurations: