Sustainable Beach Style

Summer break may be winding down, but the summer heat is definitely still in the air. My little family and I got a short break from the Louisiana heat and humidity and made our way to the beach with some friends for the Fourth of July weekend.

I was more than ready for our vacation, since it was my first trip out of town in a year and since having a baby. It was also a great excuse, I mean reason, to invest in a new one-piece swimsuit (since my other one-piece was a hand-me-down maternity suit) and a hat to protect myself from the sun.

This spring, I started doing some browsing to find companies committed to sustainability, and ended up choosing a suit from Summersalt and a hat from Conner Hats.

(Side note, the three minutes that I stopped to take these photos is probably the most I sat still and relaxed the entire vacation! Squirmy nine-month-olds are so much fun on the beach!)

I'd been seeing Summersalt a lot on social media, and because they have a commitment to sustainability, I decided to check them out. Their suits are made with 78% recycled polyamide, which is crafted from recycled plastics, post-consumer materials and nylon waste, like old fishing nets.

In addition, I've heard great things about the quality and fit of the suits. While trying to pick out a suit and color pattern, I discovered that Summersalt offers a discovery pack. You're able to choose 4 suit options to try on at home and send back the ones you don't want to keep. I was able to try on different styles and sizes at once without having to return and reorder suits, which saved time, money and resources.

I ended up going for the Swan Dive style. I love that even after having a baby, I still feel stylish and confident on the beach and the few times we've gone to the pool since then. This is my cool mom one-piece! I also love that the suit colors match the Gulf water almost perfectly.

I'm not traditionally a hat person, but after borrowing one for our beach trip last summer, I realized I wanted to have one on hand for these sunny days. 

I discovered Conner Hats through a search for sustainable hats, and I'm a happy customer. The company has a warehouse powered by solar energy, they don't use any single-use plastic in their packaging, and they use recycled and organic materials for their hats.  

Check out their sustainability commitments here.

I have learned through my hat hunting that my head is on the smaller end. I did order one hat in a small/medium that was way too big, so I spent awhile looking through the selection of hats that come in a small. I finally chose this beach straw fedora and it fits perfect. 

It worked out very well for our beach trip and it might actually make me more of a hat person in general!

Although I don't love this ridiculously hot summer weather, I am at least getting a chance to enjoy my summer swimsuit and hat for a little while longer before putting them away until next year!

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Photo Friday | Summer Season

Now that it's officially summer, time for fun in the sun is at its peak level.

I know that most people in the South can vouch that it's been summertime for a month and a half now, and we've certainly been getting in pool time since early May. But with the summer solstice comes those longer (and usually hotter) days, more hours at the pool and more backyard cookouts.

I've put together a short roundup of some of my previous blog posts that can help you make your summertime activities more eco-friendly. Consider it some complimentary poolside or beach reading! 😎

• Sustainable Summertime Gear

• What's In My Eco-Friendly Beach Bag

• Eco-Friendly Swimwear

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Celebrate the Fourth of July

• Focus on the Impact, Not the Instant

• Greener Backyard Cookouts

Hope you all have a great weekend!

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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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Photo Friday | A Hint of Fall

On the heels of Harvey, and as we watch Irma make its way closer to Florida, a cool front came to the Gulf Coast region, giving us a much-welcomed break in the heat, humidity and rain.

The timing of it couldn't be better, especially now that Labor Day has passed. I'm pretty sure the entire region went fall-crazy this week, myself included. Who cares if the crisp evenings and mornings are only here until next Wednesday? The wreath on my front door now has mums instead of daisies, the autumn-scented candles are out, and my decorative pumpkins are on full display.

This week, I had a lunch meeting, and it coincidentally was at a restaurant with outdoor seating. Best lunch meeting I've had in a long time, for sure. The breeze was perfect, the food was great, and the waitress did not bring me a plastic straw!

I regularly get comments on social media asking where my straws are from. The particular set I have is from Amazon, and came with six straws and a cleaning brush. They've been one of the best investments I've made all year (read my original blog post on my straw switch), and my husband even gets in on avoiding plastic straws when we dine out. I always have more than one straw in my purse so we're covered when we need.

And I've only almost forgotten my straw at a restaurant once so far!

This week, I also jumped right in to drinking pumpkin spice coffee, but in an almost zero-waste way. Instead of hitting the coffee shop drive thru, I brew a couple cups at home and bring my coffee to work in my reusable mug. Although it's cliche, the flavor has really hit the spot.

The picture above is from last fall, when I did visit a coffee shop for a pumpkin spice fix, but I had them use my reusable mug instead of a disposable cup. I think it was actually hotter that day than it's been this week! Check out that original blog post.

How are you spending this first weekend of pre-autumn?

And to all my friends in Florida and along the East Coast, please, please, please stay safe this weekend as Irma gets closer!

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What's In My Eco-Friendly Beach Bag

Although I tend to call it my beach bag, let's face it, my bag doesn't see the beach very often. Somehow, "pool bag" doesn't have quite the same ring, so I just go with it.

This summer, I'm trying to get out and enjoy the water as much as I can, even if I can't get to a beach anytime soon. (Fingers crossed for a trip back to Hawaii later this year!) So, I'm pretty much left with the pool at my gym and at a friend's house.

I love my gym, although it's not exactly an eco-friendly haven, with the mountains of Styrofoam cups for water, the surely massive utility bill, and the giant chlorine pools, but it is a space where I can be an eco-friendly, waste-free individual, and hopefully an example to others.

Every time I go to the pool for a little sun or just to cool off in the water, I make sure to pack an eco-friendly beach bag. Pool bag. Bag of crap. Whatever we want to call it.

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Welcome to Summertime

Here in Louisiana, school is out, the temperatures have permanently shifted to the warmer end, the summer showers are right on schedule, and hurricane season kicks off today. We're definitely in the summer season, even if it officially doesn't start for another three weeks.

Last year, I published a blog post on making your hurricane supply kit more sustainable, so in the spirit (and dread) of the season starting today, take some time to read up and start making plans for your kit.

In many ways, summer is my least favorite time of year. My hair does not agree with this heat and humidity, and it's almost physically unbearable (a feeling that climate change ensures is only going to get worse...) I mean, we still have to dress professionally for work, whether it's comfortable or not! The best parts are that June is my birthday month, and the days seem to move at a slightly more relaxed pace (although, as I get older, I feel like this is less true.)

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Sustainable Festival Style (+ a giveaway!)

Festival season is in full swing here in Louisiana, and we're one week out from Festival International in Lafayette and the first weekend of Jazz Fest in New Orleans.

Festival style, especially around the country, has become synonymous with girls in flower crowns and boho everything. I personally like to go for cool, colorful and comfortable when putting together outfits for our weekend at Festival International, and this year will be no exception. And yes, I'm already mentally putting together outfits, and just may be eager enough to take pictures of the complete outfit plans.

This is a perfect opportunity to really focus on my 2017 sustainable fashion goals, and I plan to make eco-fashion the key to my looks for the weekend. Although I don't typically buy a lot of new clothing each year, the pieces I have bought this year are either made of sustainable materials or are secondhand.

Next week, I'll be sharing my annual Guide to a Green Festival to kick off Festival International week, but today, let's focus on sustainable festival looks!

Spoiler Alert

There's a giveaway at the bottom of this post, if you insist on skipping the rest of the post content. 😉Scroll down to get the details and to enter!

Backpacks

Backpacks are the key to comfort and efficiently carrying around everything you'll need to properly spend full days at festivals. (I'll talk about the best eco supplies next week!) A few years ago, I picked up this Baggu backpack, which is made of recycled cotton. It's extremely durable, comfortable and spacious, so it's perfect for cramming all of my goods. For the cost-conscious, check thrift stores or secondhand shops for a backpack.

Clothing

Secondhand reigns supreme when it comes to festival time. You can find unique pieces and save money at the same time!

The blue maxi dress below was secondhand from Plato's Closet for an amazing price, the necklace was locally made and purchased at a local shop, the earrings are my grandmother's, and my TOMS sunglasses purchase helped someone in need receive care in the form of prescription glasses, medical treatment and/or sight-saving surgery.

One of the tops I'm most excited to wear for Festival International this year is this navy and white striped linen tank top from sustainable brand Amour Vert. The company uses responsible fabrics, nontoxic dyes, and American manufacturing.

The red top below is made of an organic cotton and modal blend, and the white and navy striped modal and spandex top is very possibly the softest piece of clothing I own. Modal is engineered from fast growing and renewable beech trees.

Sunglasses

Sustainable sunglasses are becoming more popular, especially brands following the TOMS model of giving back with each purchase. Sustainably Chic featured the brand Pala recently, who gives back to help those in need, along with providing a recycled glasses case with each pair.

Blue Planet Eyewear uses recycled plastic, metal, wood and bamboo in their sunglasses and eyeglasses.

Eco Warrior Princess has a roundup of other eco-friendly eye wear companies.

Jewelry

Sustainable jewelry and accessories are pretty easy to come by these days, and if you don't have any pieces now, you may find something your style at Festival! Look for pieces made locally, with recycled metal, or that are vintage.

This necklace from Adorn & Conquer was made in New Orleans with recycled metal and is still one of my favorites.

 

I've worn my Pimelia earrings (a prize from a Sustainably Chic contest!) SO. MANY. TIMES since I got them in the mail. Her pieces are made with sustainably harvested birch wood and the lasercutting and design processes are waste-conscious.

Shoes

Don't forget your footwear as well. Look for secondhand or vintage shoes and sandals, or browse for ones made with sustainable or vegan materials. Once again, check out Sustainably Chic's shoe roundup for a starting point on brands.

Hair

Another one of my favorite things about sustainable Festival style is the ability to let my hair run natural. My very thick hair is naturally curly/wavy, so when I'm going to be spending hours outside in the sun (and sometimes rain and always humidity), I don't bother with my flat iron. Instead, I save a lot of time and some electricity by air drying my hair and letting the natural waves do their thing.

Makeup

Keep the makeup light, and use chemical-free brands, which is better for your skin and health in the long run! In my wedding post series from last year, I talk more about the brands I've switched to and why they're more natural.

Nails (+ a giveaway!)

Continue the eco-friendly flair on your nails by using a chemical-free, vegan-friendly nail polish. So many conventional nail polish formulas include dozens of chemicals, so alternative brands formulate their polish without formaldehyde, toulene, DBP, formaldehyde resin and camphor.

Your nails are a great canvas to show off your personality, so why not take care of your nails and your long-term health with that manicure?


Last year, I discovered the New Orleans-based brand Native Polish, who formulates their line of polish without formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, toluene, camphor, DBP, xylenes and parabens. The colors are all vegan-friendly and have unique New Orleans culture names (I'm currently wearing Spicy or Mild on my toes, and I wore Ladies Who Lunch for our engagement party.)

Native Polish is available in retailers throughout New Orleans and online.

In honor of Festival season, I'm working with the awesome ladies behind Native Polish, Allison and Julie, to bring you a giveaway! Today through 5 p.m. (central time) on Tuesday, April 25, enter to win a free bottle of Blues Breakdown! I'll draw a winner Tuesday evening. This gorgeous shade of deep blue is sure to bring out your true Festival style.

Photo via Native Polish

Enter by leaving a comment on this blog post telling me what your must-have festival fashion element is. Then follow myself (@ecocajun) and Native Polish (@nativepolish) on Instagram. You must verify all of your entries in the box below in order to be qualified. We WILL be checking to see if you follow us on Instagram!

Photo via Native Polish

Photo via Native Polish

Native Polish giveaway

Good luck, and let's get ready for Festival season!

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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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How to Waste Less for Halloween

Oh hey, jeez, Halloween is in less than a week! Since I'm just proud that I even bought pumpkins before October ends this year (only because we were having house guests for the wedding, and I wanted the front porch to look...not decrepit), I am going to recycle this photo of the jack-o-lantern I carved a few years back.

Halloween is not exactly known for being zero-waste, with all of the fun-size candy in non-recyclable wrappers, not to mention the polyester costumes that are only worn once.

While we're a long way from making Halloween truly sustainable, there are small steps you can take to reduce, reuse and recycle as you trick or treat.

Decorating

Go for reusable autumn decorations that can be put out year after year, and skip the cheap decorations made of styrofoam or Mylar. Investing in good quality decorations saves you from having to replace them more often.

Don't just throw your pumpkins out! When you carve jack-o-lanterns, save the seeds for roasting. I shared a few links for delicious recipes in this previous blog post. They're such a great seasonal snack, and help reduce the waste caused by carving. If you don't carve your pumpkins, scrape all the seeds out before you get rid of them.

When the holiday has passed, add your pumpkins or jack-o-lanterns to your compost pile. Anyone who's left a pumpkin on the porch a little too long can attest to the fact that decomposition happens pretty quickly.

Costumes

First off, use what you have around the house already to craft your costumes. If you have to purchase items, look at secondhand shops before hitting up big discount stores. You'll at least give new life to something that's been used already. I'm brainstorming my own costume for our office costume contest on Monday, and I'm planning to check out my local Goodwill to find the one piece I don't already have. (Always a procrastinator!)

With children, ask other families for costumes their children have already outgrown. Swapping with friends and family is a great way to give your children a "new" costume, while giving costumes life year after year.

Candy

As I've written about before, there's really no way you can avoid individually wrapped candy if you actually want to give candy out at all. And you probably don't want to be That Person who gives out pencils or erasers or crackers or seed packets. It's great, and it's more eco-friendly and healthy, but let's face it. Kids don't want pencils for Halloween.

You could look for organic or fair-trade candy, as suggested by Forbes, but you may either have trouble finding it at your grocery store, or not want to pay extra for candy being given out to children who won't know the difference, or care about it. And it is tough to justify spending a lot on responsibly made candy for a holiday such as this one. So think simply. Look for candy in the least amount of packaging possible.

Think about those fun size packs of Starburst. You get two individually wrapped Starbursts inside another wrapper. Three things to waste for one treat. Or you've got all that candy wrapped in cellophane plastic. Definitely not recyclable. Go for something wrapped only once (think, pieces of Hershey chocolate, or other kinds of chocolate candy), in something a little better than plastic. It's kind of just one of those "less bad" situations, rather than "good".

Trick or Treating

Give each child a reusable basket, bucket, lunch bag, or cloth bag that you already own for them to carry their treats in. Get creative, but make sure it's big enough and has a handle for children to carry.

Parties

Recycle as much as you can, and if you choose disposable plates and cutlery, look for ones made with recycled materials. 

Energy

Conserve energy, and stay safer, by walking from house to house instead of driving. With so many children on the road, it's just better to leave your car parked at home.

Use energy efficient light bulbs on your porch to signal to trick or treaters that you're handing out candy, a tip from Rachelle Carson-Begley.


How do you plan to be greener this Halloween?

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Beat the Heat, but Conserve Too!

Now that it's officially summer, let's talk about how you can stay comfortable at home even when the temperatures rise. Utility rates typically rise in the summer to follow the increased demand, so it's even more important to conserve energy where you can so you can save on your bill, or at least keep it from climbing too high.

There are easy, inexpensive changes you can make in and around your home to help with your comfort, and there are more long-term investments that can leave a huge impact on your home's energy efficiency.

Inexpensive Options

• Turn your thermostat up a degree or two. You might be surprised to find it's almost as comfortable, and you'll save money on your utility bill.
• Use your ceiling fans. They require much less electricity than the air conditioner, and they help keep YOU cool in a room. When you're not occupying a room, turn off the fan to help wear and tear.
• Hang curtains. Blackout and thermal curtains are one of the best ways to block out light and heat during the summer. But, with the exception of sheer panels, just about any curtain will help to some extent. I recently replaced the valance in my bathroom with a spare curtain (folded in half height-wise because of course we have a window that doesn't fit a standard curtain size), and it has already made a huge difference. With the way this summer is going already, I couldn't stand the thought of that harsh 5:00 sun beating through the window, past the valance, and making the bathroom feel like a sauna.
• Keep your blinds, shades and curtains closed, especially during the day and when you aren't home. I'm not sure it gets any easier than that! However, sometimes you just have to let a couple certain stinkers be able to stare outside for birds and squirrels.

 

• Use the majority of your electricity in off-peak hours. Don't wash your clothes or cook during the afternoon, when the temperatures are at their hottest. The electricity rates will be higher, and the demand from everyone else will contribute to putting a strain on the grid. Do laundry or your hair in the morning or evening.
• Change up your cooking methods. Using your stove and oven contributes to a lot of excess heat in the kitchen. This can require our air conditioner to run more to regulate the temperature to keep things comfortable. Use a slow cooker or cooking dishes that don't require heat. (And I can hear many of you thinking, "Well, I might as well go out to eat or order takeout!" It is an option, but it can get more expensive and keeps more cars on the road.)
• Use CFL or LED lightbulbs in all lights and lamps. Incandescent bulbs give off more heat than light, making them more energy inefficient. CFL bulbs are cooler to the touch and use less energy to give you the same end product. LED bulbs tend to give off really good light, don't have that slow-lighting tendency that CFLs do, and are the most energy efficient type of the group. The bulbs cost more in the first place, but they have the most impact on your utility bill. The lights in the above photo of our ceiling fan are LEDs, and they are amazing. They instantly reach full brightness and do a better job of lighting the room than the previous CFLs did.

 

An LED light bulb we recently transitioned to at home.

 

• Check for cracks around windows and doors. If you can see light peeking through, then a lot of your cool air is escaping too. Patch or seal any cracks or fix anything broken to keep the air from escaping.
• Embrace shade! A house sitting out in the open is going to bake in the hot summer sun. While it's important to make sure trees themselves don't pose a threat to your home's safety, it's beneficial to keep (or plant) trees around your home to provide shade.

More Expensive, But Very Impactful Investments

• Have screens installed on your windows, especially if they're single-pane. They'll help cut down the harsh glare.
• Have solar film installed, which helps with heat reduction and solar glare. Check out this post from 2012, when I had Lafayette, Shutters, Blinds and More install solar film at my former office, making a huge impact on both our comfort and our utility bill.
• Have thermal, double-pane windows installed.
• Insulate your attic or home. Older homes, like ours, typically don't have great insulation, and it is one of the biggest factors toward escaped energy and wasted money. If you can, look into getting fresh insulation and enjoy the comfort.
• Invest in a Wi-Fi thermostat, like the Nest. There are many brands out there these days, but we invested in a Nest when my fiance first moved into his home. It has been so convenient to have the app, and the Nest learns your habits and adjusts the AC usage accordingly. We also have the Auto-Away feature set, so it learns when we aren't home for a long period of time, and it runs the AC less frequently, saving us tons of wasted energy and money. And because I'm a nerd, I love to check the weekly report to see how well we did, usage-wise. But all of the Wi-Fi thermostats enable you to run

What other ways do you stay cool during the heat of summer?

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My 2016 New Year's Resolutions

Happy New Year! Did you wake up next to an empty bottle of champagne?

Wednesday, I shared a few green resolutions that anyone can make, and today, I'm sharing my own resolutions! I still tend to make a list at the end of each year, even if I don't always see them through.  I'm proud to say I was pretty successful at accomplishing last year's list!

So, this year I want to:

• Start a real vegetable and herb garden. I think it's time to upgrade my random potted herbs and grow a few of the staples I use the kitchen. And not kill all my plants within weeks. Last year was brutal on my poor plants!
• Keep on that yoga practice. One of my 2015 resolutions was to do more yoga, and I think it was my most successful one! I've worked my way into practicing handstands and hanging in crow pose, and it makes me feel like a badass. Here's to more "feeling like a badass" in 2015.

• Pick a name for my Prius. I've had my little hybrid spaceship for seven months now, and I've still yet to name it. Do you have any suggestions? Leave them in the comments below!
• Be more present. I'm starting to feel more forgetful than I'd like to be at this age, so here's to working on listening better and remembering more.
• Have that damn garage sale already. We have had a lot of things in storage in our house for almost two years, have been talking about having a garage sale for almost as long, and we are both antsy to have our guest bedroom back. Time to get it all out without sending it to the landfill! And then I can work on minimizing the clutter.

It's January 1, and we're all in this together. We can conquer our resolutions and make this year awesome!

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How Can I Responsibly Dispose of My Christmas Tree?

Hey, good question! I'm so glad you want your Christmas tree to go somewhere better than the landfill. Even though it's not so couth to keep it decorated in your house through the new year (and it's probably super dry by now), Christmas trees are still very beneficial to natural habitats.

Many parishes (and counties in other states) accept Christmas trees during the first few weeks of January, with the purpose of recycling or composting them.

Whether you recycle your tree yourself, or place it on the curb, the most important step is the first one. Take the time to ensure the tree is completely stripped. No ornaments, no lights, no tinsel, no flocking and no tree stand!

Image: Monte Hewett Homes

Want to recycle your Christmas tree yourself?

• If you, or a friend or family member, have a camp or private fishing spot, sink your Christmas trees to create habitats for the fish.
• Have a wood chipper? Create your own mulch for your flower beds and landscape. Or just use the branches as ground cover.
• Don't burn your tree, especially in your indoor fireplace. They are a major fire hazard. An outdoor bonfire can be okay, if it's far enough away from your house. But watch your eyebrows!

Will my city pick up my tree and recycle it?

• Lafayette and unincorporated areas of the parish: Trees are collected on your regular yard waste day, and are brought to the LCG compost facility, where they are processed into soil amendment.
• Youngsville, Broussard, Carencro, Scott and Duson: You can bring your Christmas trees to the compost facility in north Lafayette and drop it off for six dollars.
• Jefferson Parish: Curbside pickup of undecorated trees starts on January 7, 2016, throughout unincorporated Jefferson Parish, Gretna, Harahan, Kenner, Lafitte and Westwego. Garbage trucks will make one pass through each neighborhood to collect trees on January 7, 8 and 9. Trees will either be placed in the Goose Bayou marsh near Lafitte to help protect and restore Jefferson's coastal wetlands, or they will be brought to Wood Materials, LLC to be chipped and used for composting.
• Terrebonne Parish: Place your Christmas trees with your normal trash pickup from January 4 to January 8, 2016. Residents may also drop off Christmas trees before January 8 at any of the TPCG residential drop-off sites at 263 Ashland Landfill Road, 651 Isle of Cuba Road in Schriever or 160 Crochetville Road in Montegut. The Christmas trees collected from local residents are placed into retention fences, also called cribs that have been constructed along the Intracoastal Waterway near the Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge. These trees provide an effective wave-break which can reduce the erosion of our fragile marshes. 
• Hammond: Southeastern Louisiana University will again collect used Christmas trees in partnership with area businesses and government agencies as part of its annual Christmas tree collection effort designed to enhance wetland restoration efforts in the Pass Manchac area. Trees can be dropped off beginning December 26 through February 9 from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Hammond Maintenance facility, 18104 Hwy. 190, next to Piggly Wiggly Super Market. The Southeastern Sustainability Center, 2101 North Oak Street, will collect trees beginning January 5 through the end of the month from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 to 10 a.m. on Friday. 
• Pearl River: Trees may be brought to the water tower located behind the Pearl River Town Hall December 26 through January 7. They'll be recycled to help protect and rebuild Louisiana's coastal wetlands.
• East Baton Rouge Parish: Curbside collection will happen January 11-January 23, 2016. The cities of Baker and Zachary will have one pickup each during that time. Multiple drop-off sites will collect trees from December 26-January 30. All trees will be mulched.

Do you have recycling information for a city or parish not listed above? Email me (caitlin@ecocajun.com) and let me know, and I'll update the list!

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What to Do With Gifts You Don't Want

First, I won't tell anyone if you're looking to drop a gift you recently received! But it's inevitable, sometimes you just get a gift that isn't the right size, style or fit for you.

Don't let it take up space and collect dust on the top shelf of the closet! It's better to 'pay it forward' and give your gift to someone/somewhere who will be able to use or appreciate it better!

• If you know the store the item came from, return it. Even without a receipt, most stores will at least give you a credit or let you exchange it right then.
• Give it to a friend or family member.
• Donate to Goodwill or Salvation Army.
• Donate gifts (especially toys) to nonprofit organizations like homeless shelters, women's homes, or children's organizations.
• Sell the item (unless you are worried about the gift-giver seeing it!)

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Making a Paperless List and Checking It Twice

It's already the week of Christmas, and although we've attended multiple parties and I've done most of my shopping, it doesn't feel like we're in the final stretch.

Plus, it's somewhat depressing that our most Christmas-like weather happened last Friday and Saturday, and it's forecasted to be 81 and rainy this Friday. Will not make global warming comment, will not make global warming comment...

But we sit each evening by the LED light of our Christmas tree, I am slowly catching up on my Christmas movies, and the cats are helping me wrap gifts.

We're checking off the list of holiday parties, and they've been some of the most fun times yet this month. Whether it's an extra long work lunch, a nice dress kind of party, or a backyard bonfire, I've been enjoying spending time with some of our favorite people.

(PS: That beer? Is pretty amazing.)

I am attempting to sit back and enjoy the season, thought I'm not always successful. There are always a thousand reasons to be stressed out, but that's not what you look back on years from now. The majority of my gifts may not be wrapped yet, but that's okay.

The gift below was for my office gift exchange, and is wrapped in decorative kraft paper and adorned with a burlap bow, from ribbon I had left over from a craft project. I loved that the gift I picked out was in a bag and stuffed with reused tissue paper, newspaper, bubble wrap and plastic bags, and the gift itself was packed in reused cardboard. I saved the tissue paper, gift bag and plastic bags and tossed everything else into the recycling bin.

 

Milo very much enjoyed helping us put up snowflake lights in the front window, and he made sure all the little lights were twinkling.

He and Dax, however, did not enjoy indulging my plan for them to dress up as Cousin Eddie for an Instagram photo contest! Even when I tried bribing them with their favorite treats.

 

There are only four more sleeps until Christmas. Let's all take a deep breath and enjoy this week! Put on music while you wrap your gifts, put on your favorite holiday movie for a repeat viewing, or eat a holiday dessert.

I hope it's cold wherever you are, but if you're in south Louisiana, suffering in the rain and humidity, just throw on your finest Christmas t-shirt!

What are you most ready for this week?

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Eco-friendly Holiday Decoratin' and Entertainin'

Now that we've got buying and wrapping gifts out of the way, let's talk holiday decorations and entertaining!

Whatever style decor you love, you can adapt to be eco-friendly. From modern to rustic to minimalist, deck your halls with sustainable holly!

Decorating

• For your interior and exterior lights, go LED. They use less energy, helping to lessen the impact on your utility bill when you're already spending extra money on food and gifts. LEDs also keep their cool better than conventional lights, making your tree less of a fire hazard. You can also find decorative solar-powered outdoor lights, which are great if you don't have an exterior outlet.

• Use natural elements instead of glitter, styrofoam and other shiny stuffs to decorate. Send the kids out to pick up small sticks and twigs in the yard, and use them in vases. They pull off a glamorous rustic feel with a simple coat of metallic spray paint.
  
  If you have a real Christmas tree, use the trimmed branches (or trim your own out of the back - no one will know!) and add them to floral arrangements or table centerpieces.
  
  Wine corks can be used for making your own ornaments, garland or miniature trees!
• Choose soy wax candles in holiday smells for a cleaner, paraffin-free burn.
• Better Homes and Gardens has 13 ideas for mason jar holiday crafts, from decorations to gifts. But instead of buying mason jars, simply use clean, empty food jars. Soak the jars to loosen the glue, then scrub the label off. Good as new-ish!
• A really fun craft for children, and okay, adults too, is making paper snowflakes. Make them greener by using scrap printer paper, newspaper, paper shopping bags or even junk mail.
• Vintage Christmas decorations are seriously some of my favorites. I've already laid claim to some of my parents', including my father's set of vintage ornaments from the late 70s or early 80s. They've already given me a musical house that is just about as old as I am. By keeping decorations for many years, or scoring vintage decorations, you're keeping unique items out of landfills.
• Use natural or recycled fabrics for your tree skirt. Burlap adds that rustic touch. Solid-colored old flat bed sheets work great and give an organic, bunched-up look. When I had smaller Christmas trees in my old apartments, I used a large piece of scrap red fabric for a skirt.

Even more decorating ideas, because I couldn't possibly list them all:

• Huffington Post, Merry Eco-Christmas
• Inhabitat, How to Green Your Holidays with Eco-Friendly Christmas Decor

Entertaining

If you're having a holiday gathering, the most eco-friendly dinnerware is the kind you use normally. Make sure your dishwasher is empty before the party starts! Alternatively, you can go a little more casual by using melamine plates and bowls and acrylic drink glasses, even though the materials are not the greatest. They are at least reusable and work well in a party setting. And there are BPA-free options, which makes them better for children especially.

But if you're having a large gathering and choose the disposable route, look for plates and bowls made of recycled or compostable material instead of styrofoam, which cannot be recycled and is not biodegradable. Wheat straw, plant-based, and bagasse are all sustainable and functional options.

Susty Party's line of compostable products can be found on their website or at Whole Foods. You can also find (less festive) biodegradeable plates and bowls at Drug Emporium.

Eco Cajun friend Kari kicked off her holiday season by camping with friends and family for Thanksgiving. For their dinner, she picked up Susty Party plates and bowls at Whole Foods, chose bamboo utensils and used brown kraft paper to cover the table. The cups are also recyclable. I love her commitment to choosing a more sustainable option, especially to go out and enjoy nature.

Photo by Kari Walker

When you're prepping for your holiday get-together, remember to recycle as much as you can. And before the guests arrive, set out your trash can and add a recycling bin next to it. If you have more than one trash can set out, place a recycling bin next to each one, so no matter what, your guests have a convenient alternative. You can even pull other items for double duty as a recycling bin, from a lined basket to a plastic storage bin.

To make the distinction easy for guests, place a sign on the recycling bin labeling what can go in it. Since I'm in the giving spirit, I made a festive printable PDF that you can tape onto or above your recycling bin! Click on the image below to download.

Download a PDF of this recycling bin sign and print it for your own holiday party!

How will you green your decorations this year?

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