Simply Having a Simple Christmastime

This is my second Christmas as a mom, and it really feels true that the magic comes back once you have a little one. It's certainly stressful once you're the adult, between doing the shopping, planning or attending the parties and figuring out the Tetris of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day events.

This year, we decided to simplify a bit. Part of it was intentional, and part of it just happened that way. And at this stage in the Christmas season, I'm honestly grateful for the minimalism.

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My 2019 Holiday Gift Guide

As Christmas quickly approaches, I've been working on my list of gifts to get for our family members and friends.

In that process, I thought about putting together a gift guide similar to ones I've done in previous years, highlighting eco-friendly and sustainable gifts. But I figured that since there are so many other gift guides being put out by talented bloggers, I might focus on a different kind of guide.

I love this guide from Natalie over at Sustainably Chic - she compiled 50 sustainable and ethical gifts that are less than $50. Right up my alley!

As Ariana gets bigger and more into her toddler phase, I've found myself thinking more about my desire to create fun family memories. We're past the newborn survival mode and she's able to do more things. It inspired me to create a gift guide focused on the intangible - things that help you create fun family memories. It's eco-friendly in a way that it doesn't focus on material goods!

So this year, consider gifting your family and friends with experience gifts. To quote Cousin Eddie, it's the gift that keeps on giving the whole year!

If you desire to wrap more than just a card or slip of paper, I'm suggesting a small tangible gift to go along with each experience.

 

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Putting Together an Eco Easter Basket

Easter baskets are not something I have dealt with in years, but this year, I was excited to put together something small, sweet and eco-friendly for Ariana...even if she won't remember it.

As I was brainstorming what to do, I realized that it's pretty simple to put together an eco-friendly basket for babies and children. The bonus is that I saved money in the process!

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Supporting a Greener Mardi Gras

It's the Thursday before Mardi Gras and the parades are underway in cities across South Louisiana. I love the revelry and spirit of Mardi Gras season, although in the past few years, it's hard to unsee the sheer amount of waste the holiday generates.

However, things seem to be turning around a little, thanks to some dedicated organizations and groups of volunteers.

My column in this week's Times of Acadiana takes a look at these groups and what they're doing to make Mardi Gras a little more sustainable.

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Merry Christmas!

I can't believe it's already time to officially say Merry Christmas!

This year has been, hands down, the one that has changed me the most. Last Christmas came after a hard year, and the holidays were bittersweet for me. This year was all about answered prayers.

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Sustainable Holiday Gift Inspiration

For the past few years, I've enjoyed putting together gift guides that compile different kinds of eco-friendly and sustainable gifts for the loved ones in your life. This year, I'm sharing some of the gift guides curated by other amazing bloggers, since I have been soaking up my time with my little one.

I hope these help inspire you to give intentional, meaningful and sustainable gifts this year!

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You Are My Sunshine

There's one toy we've been playing with pretty often that plays the tune of You Are My Sunshine, therefore, it gets stuck in my head for hours. Thanks to that, I find myself singing the song to Ariana, and it's starting to become one of my songs for her.

This year, I'm so thankful for this girl's presence in our lives. 2018 has been all about her, and she's more than we ever imagined.

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Photo Friday | Memorial Day

Memorial Day weekend is here, marking a long weekend for many and the unofficial start of summer. It's most important to remember why we have Memorial Day, so please take a moment to honor the male and female service members who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our country.

If you are planning a gathering or activities to take advantage of the long weekend, remember to be sustainable!

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Mother's Day Gift Guide

Happy May, everyone! Today kicks off the annual National Bike Month, and we're only 12 days away from Mother's Day!

If you're still (or about to start) shopping for the special mothers in your life, look for eco-friendly or sustainable gifts. Shop online in the next few days to get great deals and delivery before the holiday, or shop local and support an independent business.

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Going Green in Style with Paperless Post

When it comes to receiving holiday cards and party invitations in the mail, you typically think of a physical envelope in your mailbox. But you can still send your friends and family a beautiful and exciting card or invitation while still maintaining the spirit of reducing paper waste - enter Paperless Post!

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Eco-Friendly Easter Alternatives

It's an interesting year for holidays, with Valentine's Day coinciding with Ash Wednesday and Easter falling on April Fool's Day. I keep forgetting that Easter is actually only two weeks away. For us, Easter mostly consists of family gatherings, church and boiled crawfish. If I could even tell you how much I am looking forward to some crawfish...

If you've got younger children, your Easter probably consists of baskets, treats and dyeing eggs. All things I loved as a child!

It's not hard these days to make Easter activities a little more sustainable and eco-friendly, thanks to natural egg-dyeing methods and reusable gifts and decorating options.

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My 2018 New Year's Resolutions

It's a brand new day and a brand new year. I'm looking forward to this fresh start, and renewing my hope that this year will bring us prosperity and answered prayers.

As I mentioned last week, I started a brand new notebook for post ideas and inspiration, now that I'm to the end of my current notebook. I'm excited to start filling these (100% recycled) pages!

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Photo Friday | Christmas Week and Looking Ahead

Well, we've made it to the last Friday of the year! The year-in-review retrospectives are popping up everywhere, but this year, I'm skipping my tradition. This year was tough, and this holiday week has been bittersweet. I did enjoy reading through my 2016 and 2015 retrospectives this week!

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Going Green in the After-Christmas Frenzy

Although Christmas Day has passed, there are still things you can do to keep the holidays eco-friendly into the New Year. Let's go out strong, y'all!

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Photo Friday | Merry Christmas!

Twas the Friday before Christmas, and all through the house, Caitlin and Phillip were making their lists and checking them twice, while watching the 43^rd viewing of Elf on Freeform.

Wait...that's not how the tale goes...

I am happy to report we are 95% done with our gifts - just a few more to pick up and wrap, but our little tree is looking very festive now. For as much as I tend to procrastinate on wrapping gifts now, I always love the look of a tree with an array of presents underneath, and always get a little emotional after the gifts are unwrapped and it's empty again. Maybe next year we'll be better at shopping and wrapping earlier in the season.

All of our gifts are wrapped with an eco-friendly touch, whether it's decorative kraft paper wrap, Wrappily recyclable paper (which I completely forgot is reversible!), reused gift bags and tissue paper, reused ribbons, or even a bed sheet from our donation pile.

One thing I AM proud about is getting our Christmas cards printed and mailed out earlier this month. I took advantage of a great Paper Culture sale, so I saved money while still getting to use recycled paper, and having a tree planted for my order. I couldn't decide between two different card designs (one foil and one non-foil), so I split up the quantity and got them both!

As a small Christmas gift to you, I'm also sharing this Christmas playlist I created this week. In my Tuesday evening yoga class, I joked with my teacher that she should play Christmas music for our Thursday yoga class, as it was the last one before the holiday. She said if I created a playlist, then she would play it in class.

So, I present to you my Christmas OMMMM mix that we flowed to last night! (I can now say I have done yoga to a Hanson song in a studio!) It follows more of a vinyasa class style - faster, upbeat songs followed by slower, mellower songs.

This weekend is sure to be hectic, nonstop and a little stressful, so take a few minutes to do a few stretches, meditate, or even an at-home yoga flow. Hit up this mix and take a few deep breaths before going back for more egg nog.

 Or click here to open in Spotify!

I'll be back on Tuesday sharing some eco-friendly post-Christmas tips. I hope you all have a very merry Christmas!

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Photo Friday | Green Holiday Tips

Y'all. Christmas is in 10 days. I guess that means it's time for me to actually finish shopping and wrapping gifts, and watching the rest of my Christmas DVDs. I'm also excited to hopefully check out Christmas lights around town this weekend, if it doesn't rain too much.

If you're still in the wrapping stage, don't forget to check out my blog post from yesterday, with 20 eco-friendly ways to wrap.

I love these tips that LSU Campus Sustainability shared on Instagram this week - how many of these can you follow this year?

As a bonus, here's a quick roundup of some blog posts from the past few years, featuring photos of Christmases past:

• Simply Having a Sustainable Christmastime, December 7, 2016
• As you wrap up your Christmas shopping, learn how to plan any gatherings and decorate the house without being extra wasteful. 
• What to Do with Holiday Leftovers, December 26, 2015
• Don't throw out all the extra food from your Christmas gathering!
• Making a Paperless List and Checking It Twice, December 21, 2015
• Only four more sleeps until Christmas!   
• Packing Up the Sleigh for Holiday Travel, December 15, 2015 
• Holiday travel doesn't have to be wasteful. However you travel, there are easy ways to lessen your environmental impact.  
• Eco-friendly Holiday Decoratin' and Entertainin', December 10, 2015
• Whatever style decor you love, you can adapt to be eco-friendly. From modern to rustic to minimalist, deck your halls with sustainable holly!

How are you spending this last weekend before the big day?

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20 Eco-Friendly Ideas for Wrapping Gifts

With 10 days to go until Christmas Eve, it's time to get to wrapping gifts! I can't wait for this weekend, when I finally sit down and wrap all the gifts I've bought so far. Although I procrastinate more on shopping more as I get older, I still love actually wrapping gifts and putting them under the tree.

As I remind y'all every year, standard wrapping paper is NOT recyclable. If it is shiny, waxy or glittery, it has other materials besides paper, and it goes into the trash and into the landfill.

Via LSU Sustainability and Recycle By City

There are so many ways you can wrap gifts with recyclable or reusable options, and they are sometimes even more beautiful than conventional waxy gift wrap.

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Photo Friday | Gift Guide for Pets

After I finished my third and final gift guide for children earlier this week, I realized that there was one gift I guide I should add: for all the furry friends in our lives.

Don't tell me your pet doesn't have a stocking and get presents each Christmas. 😊

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Sustainable Holiday Shopping | Gift Guide for Children

It's time for the final gift guide this season - all for the babies and children in your life!

(Catch the guides for ladies and guys, in case you missed them.)

There are some great eco-friendly educational and fun gifts from ethical brands out there, and this guide aims to encompass a variety of gift types and age ranges.

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Sustainable Holiday Shopping | Gift Guide For Him

On Tuesday, I shared my Christmas Gift Guide for Her, and today, it's all about the dudes in your life!

I feel like I don't focus enough on guys' products on the blog, but next year, I plan to include more all year long. This guide was pretty fun to put together!

So without further ado, click through to find some eco-friendly gifts for guys.

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