Season of Gifts – Family and Friends

A commitment to sustainable lifestyle doesn’t mean eschewing all things commercial during the holiday season. My honey and I aren’t lavish givers, though we do enjoy a little shopping as eco-elves. Shopping during the holidays makes a beautiful date especially if you love being around other people like I do. Choosing gifts is harder and we’ve come up with a few guidelines we use.

Know the recipient – make gifts personal and don’t bother giving something that will be returned for a refund. If the recipient loves hot chocolate how about two mugs, a jar of organic, rainforest friendly or fair trade chocolate mix and maybe a comfy blanket or quilt. We also love to give trees for planting and books.

Hand-knit socks – so, knowing how to knit is a must, but choosing the wool yarn from small, local producers and spending time making the socks adds something special to the gift. And the socks seem extra warm and cozy

A craft – artists and crafters can create one-of-a-kind gifts for family and friends. Some artists hesitate to give this type of gift afraid it makes them look cheap. Have no fear, this gift becomes ever more precious throughout the years. I painted a picture for my wall of a waterfall; my grandmother loved it so I gave it to her. She kept it through two moves one to assisted living and then to the nursing home. The painting is now back on my wall and is more precious because my grandmother loved it so much.

Tickets – entertainment is expensive and providing tickets for two and offering to baby sit if the couple has children allows for a needed evening out for them and an evening of fun with borrowed children for you.

Fill a need – if someone you know really needs a set of dishes, a kitchen table or to have windows washed, go ahead and grant the wish. For bigger items check out thrift stores and second hand to find one that can be refurbished. For recipients of fixed incomes consider, slippers, warm sweaters and sweatshirts, lap blankets or a few good books on tape (if they have something to play them on). Don’t be afraid to re-gift or buy used and let the recipient know of was to pass them on if they are interested.

Gift Bags – Fill a reusable canvas shopping bag with non-perishable food, favorite snacks, a bottle of wine or sparkling cider or perhaps eco-friendly soap, lotion and massage oil as well as spa tools. Be creative as you show that living environmentally friendly can be a pleasure

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Mwah to the World

We’re making our Romance Wish list for how to spend the winter holidays. Our list of priorities includes time together, to make only tiny environmental footprints and to spread the joy of romance.

My perfect holiday means indulging in favorite foods, cuddling beside my honey to read a book, running at least three miles and then working together on a project. In spite of the commercial appeal of giving and receiving true joy comes from simple pleasures and having someone to share them with.

Our romantic theme for this holiday season is renewal. Instead of continuing with routine, we plan to evaluate home and lifestyle to find sustainable opportunities for change and excitement. For us this means learning new skills. We are compatible because we have diverse and complementary interests that intersect at our love of learning.

Our gift to our readers is sharing a list of ideas related to education and knowledge we hope you can use to enhance your own romantic moments.

Take a class together

Tour a factory, museum or public visitor center related to renewable energy, waste reclamation and resource conservation. Feel free to borrow our list or make your own based on your priorities and interests

Learn to skills to enhance personal and career goals – computer programming, public speaking, fundraising, graphic design, dancing, acting and comedy

Private Think Tank. Tackle a problem together to find a novel solution. Our first project is more fun than life-changing, we plan to scour our belongings and trash then use only those materials to design and build at least two boomerangs.

May you all have more joy and romance in your lives in the coming year!

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