Mother's Day Sustainable Gift Guide

Another Festival International is in the books (and heavily documented on social media), so it's time to look forward what's coming up next! Today kicks off National Bike Month, so I'll be posting a lot of bike-centric content during May, but before that, I'm switching gears (pun originally not intended!) to talk about Mother's Day gift ideas.

With just under two weeks until Mother's Day, there's still time to find the perfect eco-friendly gift for your mom, grandmother, mother-figure or wife. From handmade goods to pampering bath treats with natural ingredients, show your mom how much you care for both her and Mother Earth (hey-ohhhhh!)

Many of the gift ideas in this guide are Louisiana-based brands, but if you're not near the state, these can give you inspiration for the type of gift you want to give, and then you may be able to find a brand local to you. 

So, following the guide left to right, here are my eco-friendly Mother's Day gift suggestions:

Handmade pottery. I discovered Pottery by Osa last fall, when I purchased three planters like the one pictured above as thank-you gifts for the hostesses of our engagement party. I love Osa's pottery style, and she's based out of New Orleans and Baton Rouge. A few stores in New Orleans carry her pieces, and she vends at events regularly in Baton Rouge.

Essential oils. If you're not already hooked on essential oils, then you're probably just sick of hearing about them. But I'm a big fan, and many moms are too! They have many physical and mental benefits, they smell great, and they're a great natural alternative to chemicals. Olive and Ani is a Lafayette-based essential oil and deodorant company, and the products are all made by hand in small batches. Aromatic Infusions has a shop in downtown Youngsville, Louisiana, and they formulate their own essential oils and blends as well.

Handmade soaps. I am a big fan of specialty soaps, especially when I come across an in-store display of giant soap bricks with small slices. I'm that girl who smells every different scent. I spent about 30 minutes smelling the different soaps at the North Shore Soap Factory in Waialua, Hawaii, over the holidays. There are many different brands who create these kinds of soap, and Sapovela is one Lafayette-based brand. Along with running an Etsy store, the guys behind Sapovela vend at the Lafayette Farmers and Artisans Market. They also make natural deodorants.

Plantable plants. Flowers are a popular gift, but I think the more eco-friendly option is to give your mom a plant that can either be potted or planted, so that it can last a lot longer than a week! This little succulent was planted in a wooden planter handmade by a friend of mine, and was my Mother's Day gift of choice last year. I loved how it was a personal touch, and the succulents are still growing to this day. Stop by your local nursery and choose a brightly colored flower for your mom, instead of a bouquet.

Nail polish. Treat your mom to a manicure with an eco-friendly twist: vegan-friendly nail polish! I shared a little about Native Polish in the past couple weeks through my Festival style posts, and the colors translate well from Fest-ready to Mom's special day. The coral shade pictured above is called Fais Do Do.

Reusable water bottle. Somehow this always finds its way onto my gift guides! Ha. Help your mom go green in style with a reusable water bottle that shows off her personality. I'm always a big fan of Klean Kanteen, but these S'well bottles also up the flair factor. They're insulated, so they're perfect for keeping coffee hot or champagne chilled.

Candles. Soy wax candles in a recycled wine bottle, at that. A Higher REpurpose is a Lafayette-based eco-friendly candle company, and there are lots of new scents for springtime. In addition to shopping online, you can find A Higher REpurpose vending at Lafayette Arts and Fleas, which this month, is the evening before Mother's Day. So if you need a last-minute gift, head out to Art Walk in downtown Lafayette and stop by A Higher REpurpose's table.

Brunch. Although not pictured, if you plan to take Mom out for brunch or lunch, choose a locally owned restaurant who uses local produce, meats, and/or seafood. There is definitely no shortage of restaurant options around Lafayette, and we're lucky that so many of our restaurants are locally owned and focus on regional ingredients.

There are so many ideas when it comes to finding the right Mother's Day gift, whether you go the pampering route or not, but these are a great place to start if you're looking for something that's kind to the environment and supports a local artisan.

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A Valentine For Your Boo and the Environment

I know that Valentine's Day is not everyone's jam, but can we all at least agree that we need to show a little more love toward each other? Or at least be nicer to each other?

Valentine's Day doesn't have to be all heart-shaped chocolates, teddy bears and Mylar balloons. Understated and sustainable can be just as, if not more, romantic! Show your boo just how much you care with items that don't harm the environment.

My husband and I have really started to enjoy quiet Valentine's Day evenings together at home. Our first few holidays together, he would take me out to delicious local restaurants. Last year, since it was on a Sunday, we fired up the grill for dinner and dined al fresco, with real plates, utensils, placemats, napkins and wine glasses, of course! We gave each other cards, mine made of recycled paper and featuring a tree joke that still makes me giggle.

This year, we'll probably do dinner at home again and find a good movie to watch. Note to self: Pick up organic wine for the occasion.

Flowers

Easily the most popular Valentine's Day gift, flowers can put a strain on the environment from conventional farming, to traveling long distances, to requiring special packaging and shipping.

Go eco-friendly by ordering your bouquets or arrangements from a local florist and supporting a small business. Many times, you’ll be able to choose more seasonal or unique flower varieties and styles.

Or, consider giving flowers that last longer. Instead of a bouquet, visit a local nursery and pick out flower seedlings or a small potted plant. Your garden, or even your apartment patio, will have a cheerful reminder of your love all year long.

If you want to go the DIY route for flowers, use what you have! Our sweet neighbors recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, and for their party, the wife created flower arrangements using spray painted secondhand teapots (I wonder where she got that idea from! Ha.) and greenery from their own yard.

Gifts

Shop at local stores for gifts for your loved ones, or purchase locally produced items, like handmade jewelry.

Make your own gift with salvaged or reclaimed items.

Instead of giving something material, go for an intangible gift. Do something nice for your loved one; gift them a service like a massage, manicure or yoga class; or donate to a charity they support.

Instead of the heart-shaped box of mystery chocolates, go for organic or fair-trade sweets. Organic treats are made without additional chemicals and pesticides, and fair-trade means the workers who’ve made the item earn a fair living wage.


Pick out a sweet reusable coffee mug or water bottle.

Buy a Valentine card made of recycled paper, make a card using scrap wrapping or decorative paper, or go paperless by sending an e-card.

Plans

Going out for the evening? Dine at a local restaurant, and call ahead to see if they take reservations. (And if you tend to bring leftovers home, don’t be afraid to bring your own to-go container.)

Show off your sustainable style with a secondhand, vintage, or even rented/borrowed outfit and accessories.

If you’re not into crowded restaurants for Valentine’s Day, plan to cook a special dinner at home with your loved one. Shop at a local grocery store or your nearest farmer's market to find fresh, seasonal produce, meat, or seafood. Don’t forget your cloth bags! (A phrase I'm starting to feel like I need tattooed on my forehead. Practically my middle name at this point!)

Find an organic wine to pair with your meal. Organic vineyards don’t use artificial or hazardous chemicals on the grapes. And a bottle of organic wine is less expensive than you might think. If you’re not into wine, pick up a local craft beer. Your local grocery store or liquor store should be able to help you on both fronts.

Use real dinnerware, utensils, glasses, and napkins instead of disposable.

Take your dinner outside or plan a picnic if the weather is nice. (If it's cold where you are, and you're cursing me for suggesting eating outside - I'm sorry. Louisiana had a two-day winter this year. I'm forgetting that it's actually still winter right now.)

For Children

It's been years since I've dealt with classroom valentines, but they can definitely be wasteful and unhealthy, between the paper and the candy. Don't tell your children that I suggested recycling all of the valentines once the holiday has passed. (But I'm totally suggesting to recycle all those valentines instead of just throwing them out.)

Make classroom valentines a fun, eco-friendly project with your children. Get crafty with some decorative recycled paper, plantable seed paper, or even recycled cardboard. Children can draw their own pictures or write their own messages, or you can use a festive stamp and nontoxic ink pad.

Instead of candy, go for a more eco-friendly gift idea, like flower seed packets or colored pencils made of recycled content.

This Valentine’s Day (and every day), power your day with love — it’s a renewable resource!

What are your plans for this Valentine's Day?

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Eco-Friendly Style: What to Look for When Shopping Sustainably

This year, as I continue on my own sustainability journey, I'm focusing on improving in a few areas. Working hand-in-hand with my goal of living with more intention, I want to declutter as much as possible, especially in my closet. And when I need to replace staple items, I want to choose eco-friendly alternatives.

Oh, wait...that's not what I mean! Although it IS a dress made of recycled materials, I shan't be stepping out in newspaper clothing. (And, #TBT to Halloween 2010, when I was Tinkerbell's treehugging sister.)

Shopping secondhand helps keeps clothing out of landfills.

This year, I'm working to shop differently and sustainably. With all the ways I've gone greener over the years, I still shopped pretty conventionally. I'd impulse buy a pair of skinny black jeans at Target. I'd stock up on tops from Old Navy. I'd buy shoes from DSW.

But I've learned a lot more over the past year about sustainable style, and all that it encompasses. The qualities I will look for in the purchase of any new clothing, shoes, jewelry or bags are:

• Made of organic material
• Made of recycled material
• Made of sustainable material
• Fair-trade produced
• Vintage
• Secondhand
• Vegan leather

Here's the thing. Especially if you're frugal or thrifty, it can be an expensive adjustment to switch to organic, sustainable or fair-trade apparel. It is a lot more expensive, yes. But, think about the trade off. Fast fashion is not meant to last. Choosing eco-friendly alternatives, and supporting the brands producing them, means you can invest in better quality items made of better materials - or made of recycled materials, helping divert items from landfills. Your clothing will last a lot longer, simply because it's actually made to!

If you're wondering how clothing can be made of recycled material, I will tell you about a cotton shirt, my favorite pair of yoga pants, and two swimsuits in my closet: made of recycled PET (aka, your soft drink bottles) and recycled nylon (aka, discarded fishing nets). All of them are extremely well-made, and you don't realize that it's not conventional fibers (except of course, if you'd ask me about them, because of course I'll talk about it.)

This top with my 2017 motto, dwell on positive thoughts, is made of organic cotton and is from a Kailua local business. The yoga pants are made of recycled PET and are from Niyama Sol, which I got from Yoga Garden here in Lafayette. (And yes, I wore these on my wedding day as I was getting ready!)

Now, I'm not a huge fashionista, and since this is all about my journey toward sustainable fashion, this is where I say I'm not an expert. But after discovering the blog Sustainably Chic last year, I've become friends with blogger Natalie, who does an amazing job at bringing eco-minded brands to her readers. I've learned about so many new and great brands through her posts and collaborations. In fact, I asked her for recommendations on eco-friendly shoes for my wedding, and she pointed me toward Beyond Skin - the brand I ultimately chose and still love!

I asked Natalie to share a little on her passion for sustainable style, and why it's so important for us, others, and the environment. Do yourself a favor and follow her blog, Facebook and Instagram.

"Why choose the sustainable option when shopping? Well, pretty simply put, our planet depends on it. For most of us ladies, I think fashion is something we easily feel connected to. It's a way to express ourselves, and the choices we make when buying our clothing can add a lot of value into our lives. For me, I love the art of design and supporting the makers. The fashion industry employs millions of people all over the world, from the fibers grown to the finished product. I believe, as a consumer, you have the responsibility to make sure everyone involved in the making of your tee has been treated fairly - even the Earth! There is power in every purchase, and with this power you must have patience. Patience to do research, patience to wait for the right product and patience to keep the conversation alive for those who are new to the concept of sustainability. Always keep in mind, this concept covers so much more than the environment and what is most sustainable for one may not be the case for the other. {like I said - patience and research!}
If you are transitioning into a more conscious lifestyle, fashion is an easy start. Get to know what you have & appreciate your wardrobe. Don't shop at the mall or any shop that can't explain their choice of material or provide worker details. Give up Fast Fashion! We don't need trends or to feel as if our clothes are irrelevant. Conscious lifestyles are more personal, and your individual style will always be special. Follow bloggers or trade publications who only work with sustainably minded companies. You'll be surprised how many options you have!! No excuses, ladies ;)

This new lifestyle of yours may become overwhelming. It will engulf your entire life. From the sheets to your bed to how your travel. Don't beat yourself up, and start with the easier tasks like food and clothing {trust me, it isn't that hard!}. Don't forget to treat yourself every once in a while & remember, we won't clean the fashion industry up unless we support the brands who are working hard to make a difference."

So as I declutter, I'm keeping a paperless list on Google Keep of the items that I will need to replace, like new flats, a new belt, and a few new staple pieces. Instead of running to the store to impulsively purchase something, I'll take the time to research different companies (most of the time, means checking Sustainably Chic) and pick - which will also help curb impulse shopping. It can be harder when many of these companies are based online, but it's fun to see just what's out there. One of the first things on my sustainable list is a new everyday laptop bag.

 

This Prana sweater actually was an impulse buy earlier this month (after I decided to commit to a sustainable closet), but it was from a locally owned business, and it's made of organic cotton and is fair-trade certified. Score, score and score! Oh, and it's super comfortable too.
 
Another factor that is not on my shopping values list, but that is also a good option, is renting items you need. I use Rent the Runway very rarely (because I am definitely not glamorous enough to always need dresses), but it comes in so handy, especially for formal events. You get the joy of wearing a "new" dress to a wedding or event without having to buy a dress that's going to sit in your closet for the next few years.

I'll be attending my first Mardi Gras ball in a few weeks, and you well know I'm renting a formal gown. Only because it doesn't fit the theme to wear my wedding dress again... which I wouldn't mind an excuse to do!

 

Plus, recently, the company has switched from shipping their dresses in a box, with a bag included for return, and they now ship their dresses in a reusable garment bag. To return, you simply swap out the delivery label for a return label.

This green shirt from Tasc is made of bamboo rayon, and bamboo is highly regarded for being a renewable materials because it grows so quickly. There's still some debate over how green the production process is to turn bamboo into a fiber, but in terms of renewability, bamboo is a better option.

Plus, there's a bonus appearance from my vegan cork leather Mieroglyphs bracelet!

My all-time favorite maxi dress was purchased secondhand at my local Plato's Closet, and is my go-to "let's pretend to look like I put in effort today."

Although not real, this vintage pearl necklace from my great aunt elevates just about any outfit I could wear. The original clasp had worn out, so for $3, I replaced it with a new clasp, good as new.

I found this dress at local consignment shop Clothing Loft the day of a family member's engagement party. Pretty amazing to find a cute dress, that fits you, and on the sale rack, the day of your event!

My Fair Indigo organic cotton staple tank was a conscious choice instead of finding a cream sleeveless top from a conventional fashion brand. This quickly became one of my favorite tops.

Back to my favorite ThredUp purchase, a gold dress for wedding events (which I had tailored). The one thing about shopping secondhand online is that it can be difficult to guess if the sizing will be right. This dress was a little baggy when it came in, but since I was already having my wedding dress fitted, I brought the gold one with me and had the seamstress take it in, and now it feels like a million bucks. (It was 10 bucks, btw.)

And look at my cute bridesmaid and yoga buddy, Hailey! We didn't match our wines to our dresses on purpose, we promise.


So, here's a brief cheat sheet of brands by each value on my shopping list, a combination of ones I have shopped from and ones I follow (aka, drool over) on social media:

Organic Materials

• Fair Indigo
• LA Relaxed

Sustainable Materials/Production

• Tasc
• Oka-B
• United by Blue

Fair Trade

• Liz Alig
• Gaia Empowered Women 
• Mata Traders

Recycled Materials

• Vitamin A
• Odina Swim
• Manakai Swimwear 
• Rareform

Vegan Materials

• Beyond Skin
• Mieroglyphs
• Gunas New York
• Canopy Verde

Secondhand

• ThredUp
• Clothing Loft
• Clothes Mentor

Vintage

• Sweet and Spark

I think, toward the end of this year, I'll have to do a recap of how well I did at paring down my closet and shopping sustainably!

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Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Perfume and Cologne

A signature scent can be a very powerful thing to have, and scents can create strong associations with different stages in life. I mean, we all remember those Cool Water, Very Sexy, and Axe days, right?

But so many popular perfumes and colognes these days rely on artificial fragrances and chemicals, so while they smell good, they can really be bad for us.

However, you can still find your signature scent while spritzing yourself every morning with a fragrance free of parabens, phthalates and other synthetic materials (and I may or may not have typed psynthetic at first...)

By doing a little online research, and utilizing the Environmental Working Group Skin Deep Database, you can find out whether your favorite scent, or the one you're eyeing at the store, makes the health grade.

About seven years ago, while shopping at Sephora, I tested the Vanilla Grapefruit perfume by Lavanila, and instantly fell in love. It was clean, not too strong but not too faint, not overly girly, and very unique. And all the products Lavanila makes use natural ingredients and are free of parabens and phthalates. (And by the way, their Vanilla Blackberry scent is even better, yet seemingly hard to find these days. I'll be holding on to my rollerball as long as possible!)

I'd been alternating my daily perfume between Lavanila and my go-to Burberry Brit, until I wrote a blog post on the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Database, and learned just how harmful its ingredients can be. Since then, I've stuck to using my more natural perfume each day (and a few days I'll change it up, since I don't want to waste the Burberry I do still have.)

And yes, I know I'm running out. My bottle of Vanilla Blackberry is on its way!

And of course, for our wedding, I had to use my signature eco perfume. It was the perfect complement to my natural makeup and our garden ceremony setting.

But of course, there are tons of different brands available that make natural fragrances, although I haven't smelled these on my own.

• Treehugger's 12 natural perfume brands
• One Part Sunshine's 12 nontoxic men's colognes
• Living Pretty Naturally's top 5 natural perfumes

Maybe perfumes and colognes aren't your thing. That's okay! While many natural perfumes use essential oils as a base, you can eliminate the middle man and simply use essential oils as your fragrance.

Just be sure that whichever oil you choose, it doesn't cause a reaction on your skin. Choose ones that don't have to be diluted with a carrier oil.

You can even transfer essential oils to handy rollerballs for easier application. They're super easy to carry in your bag for daily use.

You don't have to sacrifice an amazing fragrance when you commit to cutting out harmful ingredients. Instead, you'll find one that smells amazing and makes you feel good inside!

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The 2016 Eco Cajun Green Holiday Gift Guide

As I grow older, the more I truly enjoy the process of finding the right gift to give someone. It's easy and pretty guaranteed to pick something off someone's list, but it's even more fun when you can surprise someone with something thoughtful and creative.

Now that the holiday season is here and shopping is in full swing, it's a great time to look for eco-friendly and sustainable gifts for your loved ones, coworkers, or even for those White Elephant parties.

Instead of categorizing my Eco Cajun Gift Guide by recipient, I've broken it down by the different eco-friendly qualities (and sometimes, gifts are more than one of these!) From fair-trade to recycled, to upcycled, to handmade, to vegan, to organic, find the perfect gift - at any price point - for anyone!

Fair-Trade: Liz Alig | Handmade: Secondline Jewels | Sustainable: Carved | Experiences: Yoga Garden
Vintage: Sweet and Spark | Reusable: Klean Kanteen
Organic: Bonterra Vineyards | For Children: Schwinn, Paper Culture | Upcycled: A Higher REpurpose
Vegan-Friendly: Mieroglyphs | Chemical-Free: Native Polish | Recycled & Charitable: Hands Producing Hope

There are so many Louisiana-based independent shops and online eco-minded businesses and brands that I couldn't even begin to scratch the surface in one gift guide. Get some store links throughout the guide below, or visit my Resources page for a more comprehensive list of links.

Side note: Most of the brands listed are ones I've shopped from before, or collaborated with. A few were simply found through researching.

Fair-trade

Fair-trade goods are made by workers who are paid fair prices and work in better conditions. Many times goods are produced with eco-friendly methods as well. Producers in developing countries get a fair price for their products to reduce poverty, provide for the ethical treatment of workers and farmers, and promote environmentally sustainable practices. Buying fair-trade goods support workers in developing countries much more than conventional goods.

In the gift guide graphic, these Liz Alig gloves are woven by a small cooperative in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and provide employment to women entrepreneurs.

• Gaia for Women
• Mata Traders
• Fair Indigo
• Hands Producing Hope

Handmade

Handmade goods make awesome gifts because of their uniqueness and heart. I tend to feel a more personal connection with handmade goods because I know someone really spent time and effort into making them. You can usually buy direct from the maker, or you can find great handmade goods in locally owned shops, which benefits even more people in the community.

In the gift guide, I've got local jewelry brand Secondline Jewels, whose rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces are made from broken or used drum cymbals.

• Mimosa Handcrafted
• Novica
• Uncommon Goods
• Nativa Fine Mexican Clothing
• Welded Roots 

Sustainable

Sustainable materials are ones that leave a smaller impact on the environment, from requiring fewer chemicals or natural resources like water and electricity during production, to being more renewable.

Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world, can be used in SO many different ways, and is popular in apparel. Tencel is another sustainable material made from cellulose in wood pulp, and it can be found in sheets and apparel.

Wool is an all-natural, renewable fiber from sheep, has a long lifespan, is one of the most recycled textiles, and is biodegradable.

Cork trees are not cut down when cork is harvested; the bark is simply stripped from the tree. The tree is also able to regenerate its bark during its lifespan. Cork can be made into a vegan leather alternative, and becomes the foundation for Mieroglyphs bracelets.

Featured in the gift guide is a gorgeous cell phone case from Carved. The company uses sustainable wood harvests to make their cases, and everything is made in the United States. I recently purchased a case for my new phone, and I can't wait for it to come in the mail. (Click the link to get a special 10% discount code for your purchase!)

• EcoJot (notebooks and stationery made with 100% recycled paper and sustainable inks)
• Bambeco
• Bambu
• Pela Case

Experiences

You can always gift someone an experience, providing great memories without a lot of stuff. A gift card for everything from yoga classes to restaurants or coffee shops, to outdoor adventures makes for a great stocking stuffer or main gift.

Giving a gift card doesn't require a big box, tissue paper, or a gift bag, and they can even sometimes be reloadable (therefore, reusable). Beyond that, a gift of an experience is zero-waste!

• Yoga Garden (try out aerial yoga, you know you want to!)
• Down Dog Yoga
• Bayou Teche (oh...did I mention, going for a paddle on the Bayou Teche is fun AND free!?)
• Southern Stone indoor rock climbing
• Cajun Country Swamp Tours
• Get a gift certificate to a local coffee shop that provides discounts if you bring your reusable mug
• Set up a picnic or Frisbee afternoon for your love, BFF, or family at the Moncus Park at the Horse Farm

 

Vintage/Secondhand

Shopping vintage or secondhand goods helps extend the life cycle of products. Plus, you can find super unique goods that may no longer be available. From pop art to home decor, to clothing and jewelry, visit local flea markets or consignment shops, or browse online to find that perfect gift.

Sweet and Spark curates a beautiful selection of vintage jewelry, but especially with any vintage finds, you've got to act quickly!

• Clothing Loft 
• Hey Tiger Vintage Goods 
• ThredUp

Reusable

I always say investing in a few reusable items is the first step to making a greener impact on the planet. Help someone get started on the reusable path by gifting them a water bottle, coffee mug, or even coffee filters or K-Cups. You've heard me sing the praises of Klean Kanteen before, but I seriously think it's one of the best changes to make first. I still have my first Klean Kanteen I bought over eight years ago! (And it most recently held locally made Bayou Satsuma Rum!)

• Chico Bag
• Reuseit

Organic

Organic items are produced without chemicals. For example, an organic cotton t-shirt means the cotton was grown and farmed without the use of pesticides. Choosing chemical-free has many benefits for your health, your children and the environment.

Beyond clothing or textiles, you can find organic foods, wines and chocolate, which is definitely a festive and healthier gift - perfect for the foodie in your life! A not-so-clever hint: you can find a LOT of well-priced organic food items at Whole Foods Market.

The gift guide features an organic Cabernet from Bonterra Vineyards.

• Frey Vineyards
• Alter Eco Foods (chocolates, truffles, quinoa and rice)
• Bambeco (a large variety of organic products, from food to bedding)
• Winter Water Factory (adult and children's clothing) 

For Children

If you've got children and they don't have a bicycle, now is the perfect time to teach them the ways of eco-friendly transportation and inexpensive fun times! Schwinn is popular for their children's bikes (and adult ones too), and they've got all the safety gear you need.

For a fun, personalized gift, Paper Culture has great eco-friendly games and decorations, like this personalized memory game. It's educational, to teach relationships and important people, and it's cute and fun!
 

Recycled/Upcycled

Recycled items can be either pre-consumer or post-consumer. Pre-consumer recycled material is what's salvaged in production before a product is distributed. Post-consumer recycled material is what's made from items you throw into your recycling bin, like any items containing RPET.

Upcycling is a form of recycling where the new product is different or more creative than its original version. Upcycled products make great gifts! Think garden accessories, candles or wind chimes made from wine bottles. Gifts made with recycled metal are also a great choice.

Back to the gift guide: Hands Producing Hope sells a few different baskets that are made with recycled plastic bags. (The organization is also charitable and fair-trade.)

And the candles from A Higher REpurpose are always some of my favorites. They hit three of the sustainability categories I touch on today: upcycled, handmade, and local! (Check out my blog feature on AHR, formerly known as Syrup Row.)

• Hip Cycle
• Uncommon Goods
• Bambeco

Upcycling is the process of converting old or discarded materials into something useful and often beautiful. - See more at: http://hipcycle.com/what-is-upcycling#sthash.LVP8zOox.dpuf

Local

Supporting locally owned businesses and artisans is a great way to support your community's economy. Continue the momentum from Small Business Saturday, and shop local for many of your Christmas gifts. Local retailers carry so many unique items perfect for gifts. And don't forget your local artisans! Every community has a crop of talented people who make great unique items from jewelry to home decor and art, to even clothing and holiday decorations.

• Red Arrow Workshop (sad side note: this holiday season will be their last month in business, so PLEASE, go visit and shop and help them go out on a really high note!)
• 2 Chicas jewelry
• Hub City Cycles
• Goods that Matter
• Clothing Loft 
• Hey Tiger Vintage Goods 
• Lagniappe Records

 

Charitable

Charitable gifts can go two ways: tangible and intangible. Many charities have online shops where you can find gifts, and proceeds go toward funding the charity. By giving a charitable gift for the holidays, you're really giving twice!

Or you can simply make a donation in someone's name, without getting anything in return (except for your receipt for tax purposes, amiright!?)

• Charity:Water uses all proceeds from their store fund their clean water projects. 
• The World Wildlife Fund has a variety of gifts you can choose when you make a donation. 
• In my 2015 Giving Tuesday blog post, I share a list of some eco-friendly nonprofits.

Chemical-Free and Vegan-Friendly

Maybe not everyone enjoys getting cleaning products for Christmas, but for those who want to have a more natural and chemical-free home, it can be a great gift. For something a bit more fun and glamorous, look for chemical-free makeup and nail polish.

I wrote more about my journey to natural makeup earlier this year in preparation for my wedding. Tarte and Ecco Bella are two brands I really enjoy using so far.

When it comes to nail polish, brands like OPI and Essie are both three-free (learn the meaning in my blog post on greener manis), but my current favorite is the New Orleans brand Native Polish. Their polishes are seven-free and vegan friendly. So obvs, the nail polishes don't eat meat, dairy, or animal products. (Okay fine, they just don't contain any animal byproducts.)

• Grove Collaborative
• Honest Company

WHEW!

Now...Shipping

Some sustainable companies go beyond just focusing on the kind of goods they sell, and commit to extra practices like planting a tree with every order placed (something eco-stationery company Paper Culture does), shipping in recycled boxes with paper packaging material, or even offering carbon-free shipping. Online retailer Bambeco is one that offers carbon-free shipping, which means they use minimal packaging made from recycled materials, work with shipping carriers that offer greener options, and eliminate their carbon impact in 100% of their shipments.

With Carbonfree® shipping through Carbonfund.org, they offset unavoidable emissions, supporting renewable energy and achieving their goal of delivering carbon free. So far, they’ve kept over 236 metric tons of carbon out of the atmosphere.

If you mail your own gifts, choose sustainable packaging! Reuse boxes and packaging material instead of buying new. If you sell gifts online or just have a lot to ship out, consider investing in more sustainable packaging, like envelopes and boxes from EcoEnclose.

Now, go forth and have fun shopping!

For more green company and brand listings, visit:

• Eco Cajun Resource links
• Sustainably Chic's list of conscious brands
• Sustainably Chic's holiday gift guides 

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Eco-Friendly Bridal Style Elements

Wedding style was one of my favorite areas in which to go green. There are so many fun things to research and shop around for, although at times, the decisions can be tough.

Committing to finding an alternative can prove to be difficult, when sometimes there don't seem to be many choices. But it was important for me to stick to my guns, support local businesses, and choose more eco-friendly alternatives.

Overall, I'm very happy with how well I did! And today, I'm breaking down each element for you.

I had three dresses for pre-wedding events, and all of them (plus a pair of shoes) were secondhand, without looking like it! Two dresses came from Thred Up, and one was from local consignment shop Clothing Loft. The dresses themselves were amazing, but needed a few alterations to truly fit well. It was an easy fix and still less expensive than buying three new dresses. I either wore jewelry I already had, or wore a few "new" vintage finds.

The morning of the wedding, I knew I wanted to wear my favorite Niyama Sol turquoise yoga pants. Not only are they extremely comfortable and my favorite color, they are made of recycled plastic bottles. (And I got them locally at Yoga Garden.) My button-up shirt was monogrammed by Simply Unique Too, a local husband and wife venture.

So, the dress. When we first got engaged, I started by researching organic and sustainable wedding dresses. It was a fail. There are dresses available online, but none that came close to fitting the vision I saw for myself. One of the things I find about eco-fashion is that it focuses more on being sustainable than being cute (for lack of a better word). I'm no fashion designer, and maybe my girl Natalie from Sustainably Chic can shed more light on it, but I don't see why eco clothes don't fit/aren't designed more like conventional clothes.

I also perused a few secondhand bridal websites, like OnceWed, but I really wanted to experience trying on a lot of dresses. It was a stressful process, but it was a fun tough decision to make! With my mom by my side, I had a lot of fun trying on so many different styles, and I ultimately chose my dress from a popular local shop, A Net's Bridal Boutique.

With all of the follow-up visits I made to the store for fittings and accessories, I was extra happy to be so close by, instead of having to make multiple trips out of town. (In fact, I only visited two other boutiques during my hunt, one in Lafayette and one in Baton Rouge.)

I wanted to keep my jewelry simple, since the dress was covered in sequined lace and the belt was very beaded. My pearl bracelet was made for A Net's, I believe. My earrings are a vintage pair courtesy of my grandmother, and I was so happy to be able to have something of hers in my outfit. My small cross necklace is actually from when I was a child. It was simple and subtle, and didn't compete with the illusion lace neckline.

I mentioned it a couple weeks ago in a Photo Friday blog post, but my shoe journey was quite adventurous. I was determined to have sustainable shoes, which is not as easy as it seems to accomplish. I really wanted an amazing pair of vintage bridal shoes, but it was a very fruitless search. I tried two other pairs, one conventional and one secondhand, before finding this vegan leather pair from Beyond Skin.

With the company based in the United Kingdom, I quickly learned a lot about European shoe sizing and how it translates to my traditional shoe size. Their customer service rep, Coral, very sweetly handled all of my email questions about shoe sizing, styles, returns and customs. I definitely guessed wrong on my shoe size on my first pair, and ended up with a different style shoe, but they were my favorites out of every pair I tried. (If you're curious, I wear a 7.5 in American sizing, and went with a 38 in European sizing. They were a pretty solid fit.)

So, these shoes are made of vegan leather, and the lining is 100% recycled with a vegetable polymer coating. With the lower heel and ankle strap, they were perfect for dancing all night while staying comfortable. And I definitely plan to wear them for special occasions post-wedding.

I ended up wearing the secondhand shoes that didn't work out with my wedding dress with my secondhand rehearsal dinner dress, and they'll also get a lot of use in future holiday parties and cocktail dinners (like I go to so many of them. Ha!)

We got our rings from a local Abbeville jeweler, Melancon Jewelers. The staff was so incredibly helpful during all of our visits, and I'm so happy that we got to support a small business.

Check out my previous post on Eco Flower here.

I used my eco-friendly makeup and perfume on my big day, and I'm still amazed I didn't screw it all up. Most of the makeup was Tarte, with Ecco Bella powder and Physician's Formula eye shadow. My perfume was La Vanila (my absolute favorite brand).

With all of the eco-friendly elements to my bridal style, I felt even more like a million bucks for our big day!

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Photo Friday | Eco-friendly Wedding Elements

While I have so, so much that I cannot wait to share from our wedding last weekend, I am going to put just two sneak peeks in today's Photo Friday post. I had a lot of fun (and a little frustration) attempting to stay as committed as possible to incorporating green elements into our ceremony and reception, and I'll be featuring some of the brands and companies I worked with in coming posts (as I get all the professional photos back).

I was determined to have sustainable shoes, which is not as easy as it seems to accomplish. Finding bridal vintage shoes was a basically impossible task, and I tried three pairs (one conventional pair, one secondhand pair, and one vegan leather pair) before finding THE ones, shown below. I do plan to do a post on my bridal style, but this is my quick shout out to Beyond Skin, based in the United Kingdom, and specifically Coral in customer service, for all of their help and for these gorgeous shoes.

My main requirement was a shoe with an ankle strap so they wouldn't slip on and off. These shoes are made of vegan leather, and the lining is 100% recycled with a vegetable polymer coating. The heels were lower than I normally wear, but perfect for dancing the night away.

We included my bicycle as part of the decorations at the ceremony and the reception, and I just love how it became a gorgeous focal point. Members of my new family did a great job on the floral arrangement in my basket, the lights on the basket are LED, and I made the pennant myself.

I've kept the hydrangeas and eucalyptus from the arrangement (love having them in my office!), and will dry them out once they start to wilt. That way I can keep a fragrant reminder around as long as possible!

Have a great Halloween weekend! Don't forget to make a few changes to make your Halloween greener.

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Photo Friday | Sustainably Ever After

It may be quiet on the blog front, but certainly not behind the scenes, as we are now officially ONE day away from getting hitched!

I'm so excited and anxious to see all of our plans put into action, all of our friends and family gathered in one place, and our wedding party all dressed up.

I also cannot wait to share all of the eco-friendly elements with y'all in the next few weeks. It's been extremely hard to not divulge everything on social media before the big day! 

Today's Photo Friday features a few wedding-related snapshots. For our engagement party/couple's shower a few weeks back, I had a lot of fun showing that sustainability doesn't have to mean sacrifice.

My dress is secondhand from ThredUp (and I had it altered since it was slightly large); my earrings (which you can see in the second photo) are sustainably made by Australian-based Pimelia (and a contest prize courtesy of Sustainably Chic!); my necklace was a vintage find in New Orleans during my bachelorette weekend; and my nail polish is 5-free, vegan, and Louisiana-based by Native Polish. My shoes are from when I was a bridesmaid four years ago, which is probably the most sustainable thing about them. And the balloons were used to mark the house our party was at, and were properly disposed of at the end of the night, keeping them from littering the road or a nearby waterway.

And my fiance is handsome. :) He has certainly embraced my treehugging ways by recycling, conserving energy at home, using reusable water and coffee mugs, and reusing/salvaging usable items.

And this is Dax in a bow tie, because the world needs more adorable photos like this. He may or may not be our honorary ring bearer.

See y'all on the other side of married!! Follow me on Instagram and Snapchat (ecocajun, of course) to catch all the fun times.

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Pre-wedding Natural Makeup and Skincare

I'm not a makeup junkie. My entire collection is probably smaller than most people's travel bags, and I buy new makeup when I hit the point of not being able to squeeze another drop out of the tube. I've pretty much stuck with the same brands and colors for the past 10 years.

But over the past year, I've been more attuned to researching companies that use fewer chemicals in their makeup and beauty products, looking for more natural and vegan-friendly alternatives. It's very much a broad industry to peruse, and I've spent a lot of time researching different brands, their claims and ingredients, and their ratings in the EWG Skin Deep Guide to Cosmetics. (Read about EWG in this blog post as well.)

And I'm by no means an expert on natural beauty products now, but as my wedding approaches ever closer, I realized it was a great time to invest in a few new products the green way. Besides for wedding purposes, it's also time to invest in better products for my thirtysomething skin. I've grown up a little beyond the days of 1998 that involved Cover Girl liquid foundation the thickness of a milkshake and in the wrong shade.

So, what am I doing to prep my skin for our big day next month?

Although not featured in the title image, the important part is where you begin. Every morning I use Burt's Bees Deep Cleansing Cream, and it always feels so cool and refreshing. (It's rated a 4 on the EWG scale, and the biggest problem ingredient is something I may need to look into more.) 

A few weeks ago, I visited my local Sephora looking for a natural or organic mask for general skin glowiness. That might be exactly how I asked the sale assistant for help too. I'm sorry to everyone who's heard me preface anything lately with "I'm getting married in __ months, so..." But, it pretty much is the guiding force of everything on my mind lately.

So. Mask shopping. The girl recommended this new Farmacy Honey Potion mask, so I went for it, because of their commitment to natural ingredients. It's warming, it's renewing, it looks like straight up honey until you massage it into your skin, and it makes your skin extremely soft. I think it's also helped my pores and blackheads, giving me a fresh-faced look. Oh, and the spatula is magnetic so it can attach to the lid so you don't lose it. Is it inexpensive? Absolutely not, especially for someone like me. But now is the time to invest! And even after just a few weeks, I think it's worth it.

I asked how often I could use the mask, and the girl said it was safe to use frequently. Because I'm so addicted to how smooth my skin feels, I use it every other evening (at least until the wedding when I'm officially allowed to let go. Don't tell Phillip. 😝) 

And the most basic, most important lesson of all. Drink water. I admittedly don't drink 64 ounces every day, but I've really been working to get back to that so I can feel as good as possible. My head certainly reminds me when I've been slacking, and I do not have the time or the want for a headache. So, all the water.

On the nights I don't use the hydration mask, I apply a layer of this Simple Ultra Light Gel Moisturizer. Found at Target, it's very cost effective for a natural product. On the EWG scale, it ranks a 2. I picked this up earlier this year when the cooler air (what's that?) was leaving my skin extra dry, and it's helped tremendously.

On to my new morning makeup routine. When I was researching brands, I knew that vegan-friendly and natural alternatives would cost a little more than I usually spend, but I wasn't willing to pay too much more. I've been using Tarte blush (3 on the EWG scale), Physician's Formula eyeshadow (2 on the EWG scale) and Ecco Bella powder (2 on the EWG scale) for a few months now and love them all. Everything is comparable to the conventional products I had before.

What I purchased recently for the wedding (and for general upgrades) includes Tarte BB tinted moisturizer foundation, Tarte CC undereye corrector (although there's not much hiding these suitcases), Tarte waterproof eyeliner and Tarte waterproof mascara. (And a-thank you to an Ulta gift card I still had from Christmas.)

Tarte is a larger brand, available at both Sephora and Ulta, but they are committed to keeping parabens, mineral oil, phthalates, triclosan, sodium lauryl sulfate, and gluten out of their products.

And they perform really well. I also have a sample size of Tarte's 4-in-1 mascara, and my lashes look fantastic these days, if I do say so myself. The waterproof mascara may not give quite as much the magical effect, but it still works really well, and both the mascara and eyeliner stood up to an hour of hot power yoga. So I mean, if they can handle that, they can handle ugly crying and sweaty dancing. #weddingapproved

Of note, Ecco Bella is a certified green business and is made in the USA. They place a focus on having sustainable packaging as well - their blushes come in a refillable compact, so when you replace your blush, you can use the same container. The face powder is not refillable, but it is a cardboard compact so it's recyclable. I've had this powder for almost a year, and the compact hasn't lost any strength, so that's not an issue to worry about.

There are lots of makeup brands committed to avoiding chemicals, vegan-friendliness, and sustainability, and if I even tried to list them here, I would leave out a lot.

If you're shopping around for new makeup, do your research first. Visit the company's website to read about their ingredients or values. Look up products in the EWG Skin Deep database. Ask around. (When I first went to Ulta in my makeup transition, I asked the girl to point me toward the natural or organic brands.) Read the ingredients lists on retailer websites or on the product packaging. Ask for samples if you can, to see if you like something before you commit to purchasing.

Makeup may be skin deep, but the effects from harmful ingredients can go way deeper and last longer.



None of these products are featured because of sponsored endorsements; they're just players in my eco lifestyle game! Gotta walk that walk before I can talk the talk.

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Making the Grade

In my own green journey, and as research for both past and upcoming blog posts, I've been taking a closer look at the ingredients of many products I use daily. One area I'm working on and upgrading is my skincare and makeup products. If it can seep into my skin, it shouldn't be toxic.

I've written before about the Environmental Working Group, but here's where I put my research to the test.

Who is this group?

EWG is not just a group of hippies with a website who shuns mainstream products. They are a legitimate nonprofit organization, with a pretty large staff, and they use thorough research to better educate consumers on food, skin products, water and the environment so we can make educated choices.

I first learned about the group a few years ago with their list of the Dirty Dozen foods, the ones most likely to be doused in pesticides and most recommended to buy organic. Since then, I've learned just how expansive their focus is.

And they are constantly doing research. Back in May, I wrote about nontoxic nail polish and referred to the EWG guide for some points. Recently, there was an update posted on their website about new scores for nail polish based on new research about triphenyl phosphate (TPHP). So you know that scores on the website are not necessarily outdated.

How do I use it?

Whatever category you're looking into, select it from the main page. I'll use Skin Deep for this post's purposes. Select a subcategory and dive in to the list of brands and products. You can also search for a specific product. The lower the numbered score, the lower the health hazard, on a scale of 1-10.

The overall score is an average of each ingredient's score, and each ingredient is broken out and listed with its own rating and explanation.

The information gives you a basis to make a decision on whether you want to continue using the product, or help you search for a better alternative. Maybe fragrance doesn't bother you. But maybe you have sensitive skin and heavy fragrance causes a rash or skin outbreak. The database can help you check products before you spend the money to try it yourself.

As with everything, EWG has a legal disclaimer, so you take this with however much salt you please.

Show me how it works.

Bossy! But let's do this. Let's grade a few of my current bathroom products.

• Lubriderm daily moisturizing lotion with sunscreen: The closest match I found is the 2012 formulation, and it doesn't give great results:
• With an overall score of 6 (out of 10), the lotion scores an 8 on the fragrance and oxybenzone ingredients. According to EWG research, these contribute to Ecotoxicology, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Miscellaneous, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive); and Enhanced skin absorption, Biochemical or cellular level changes, Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Endocrine disruption, Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Persistence and bioaccumulation, Use restrictions.
• Old Spice deodorant: First, shut it. I don't like most girly deodorants. And my time using a natural alternative did not smell great. I am working on finding another natural alternative. However, surprisingly:
• A 3 out of 10! Once again, fragrance is the worst ingredient, with an 8.
• Tom's of Maine toothpaste: Alriiiiight! A good score! I would hope so at least, since I made this switch a couple years ago to be more natural. 
• The toothpaste gets an overall 2 out of 10. Highest ingredient concern is "flavor" with a 4. Concerns? Miscellaneous. Ooookay. Don't want to poison my miscellanies, but I do like the minty flavor.
• Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer: So I bought this a few days ago without reading the ingredients, and plan to bring it back since I noticed it contains the blasted parabens.
• The overall 6 score isn't as bad as I thought it would be, but there are 3 ingredients in the high-danger range: fragrance, propylparaben and DMDM hydantoin (a formaldehyde releaser). I mean, I just want the lazy girl's half-assed winter tan. But maybe not with a side of formaldehyde...
• La Vanila Vanilla Blackberry perfume: Y'all. This is my favorite brand of perfume. Paraben-free and all that jazz. But that damn fragrance is causing a negative skew on the score. Shame, because it smells SO. GOOD.
•  Overall score of 5. Fragrance is an 8, SD Alcohol 1 is a 4, and all the rest of the ingredients are 1s. This is one product where I make the decision to keep it. Because again. It smells so good.
• Burberry Brit: Oh. Well. At least I have La Vanila!
• Overall score of 10. Out of 10. Most ingredients are high on the allergy/immunotoxicity radar. One ingredient scores a 1, and it's water.
• Opti Free Replenish: Not in the database. Works for me, because I'm not sure there is a natural alternative to contact lens solution...and I don't mess around with contact lens care.
• Burt's Bees Deep Cleansing Cream: This stuff smells strangely amazing and I've grown to love it. After writing about microbeads, I wanted to stay far away from conventional face washes, and quite enjoy what Burt's Bees produces.
• Overall 4 out of 10, with sodium borate being the worst offending ingredient. Can cause Developmental/reproductive toxicity, Multiple, additive exposure sources, Miscellaneous, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Use restrictions.

So there you have it. A rating of some of Caitlin's bathroom products. Not too bad, but can definitely be improved.

What about on-the-go?

Since I've been looking into my makeup upgrade, I've been researching organic brands both on EWG and on blogs or wellness lists, which is great when I'm on my laptop, curled up with a cat or two in my lap. But then I get to the store and forget what I read a few weeks prior.

And then I stand there, furiously trying to Google brands and getting overwhelmed with search results and different recommendations. So I downloaded three EWG apps: SkinDeep, Dirty Dozen and Food Scores. With the apps, you can search for products or scan its barcode to get results. Yay! Instant gratification fulfilled.

To test the SkinDeep app, I scanned the barcode of my favorite chapstick, Burt's Bees. And here's what popped up almost instantly:

So, not as great as I thought...considering I apply chapstick approximately 924 times a day. But I can handle an allergy threat, so it won't stop me from using the brand.

But this app will come in extremely handy when I'm shopping for skincare or beauty products, and want to compare a few products.

The Dirty Dozen app serves as a reminder of which produce items should be bought organic.

And the Food Scores app works similarly to Skin Deep, where you can grade tons of food products.

Again, take it all with however many grains of salt you want, but it does open your eyes a little bit to just what's in so many products we use daily.

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