Christmas & Consumption

I don't think anyone considers their Christmas to be all about presents, but gift-giving remains a time-honored tradition that people around the world look forward to each year. I love giving (and receiving!) Christmas gifts too, but the article below is a great reminder to give only things that the recipient will actually use - don't just give for the sake of giving.

The article entitled The Gift of Death by George Monbiot is pessimistic, but enlightening:

"But many of the products we buy, especially for Christmas, cannot become obsolescent. The term implies a loss of utility, but they had no utility in the first place. An electronic drum-machine t-shirt; a Darth Vader talking piggy bank; an ear-shaped i-phone case; an individual beer can chiller; an electronic wine breather; a sonic screwdriver remote control; bacon toothpaste; a dancing dog: no one is expected to use them, or even look at them, after Christmas Day. They are designed to elicit thanks, perhaps a snigger or two, and then be thrown away."

 So, in the words of Monbiot, this Christmas try something more long-lasting, homemade, or meaningful:

"Bake them a cake, write them a poem, give them a kiss, tell them a joke, but for god’s sake stop trashing the planet to tell someone you care. All it shows is that you don’t."

image courtesy of eandt.org

Upcycled Christmas Decorations

In the mood for some DIY? Use that creative spirit to make some festive and green decorations for the holidays:

CDs ----> Ornaments

Wine corks ------> Mini Christmas Tree

Scrap paper ----> Gift bows

To find out how to do all of these (and more) upcycling crafts, check out Boston Green Blog on Pinterest.

Green Gift Ideas Continued: Treehugger Guides

Only 14 days left until Christmas! So far Boston Green Blog has featured eco-friendly gift ideas from
The Nature Conservancy, The New England Aquarium, Lauren Conrad, and Jess Rizzuti  . But if you need a more comprehensive guide, take a look at TreeHugger's 2012 Gift Guide. TreeHugger composes the best  gift guides on the web, so you're sure to find something for everyone on your list!

Some of my favs that I found through TreeHugger are:

Agate Plates & Coasters from VivaTerra

Earrings from Lulu Frost

Upcycled Clutch Made from Books from Conduit Press

20% Off Jess Rizzuti Eco Friendly Bags Until Dec. 31

Designer Jess Rizzuti is treating Boston Green Blog readers to 20% off all products purchased between now and December 31, 2012!!!! All you have to do is use the code: zutifam2012

Jess Rizzuti is known for gorgeous, stylish, ethically-made handbags. She is best known for her cork bags and has been nominatedtwo years in a row for her creations in cork as Best Green Handbag in the Independent Handbag Designer Awards sponsored by InStyle. The eco friendly designs utilized water-based dyes/glue, heat transferred patterns, renewable resources, and waste reduction concepts.

Eco Gift Ideas by Lauren Conrad

Whoever thought Lauren Conrad, the blonde celebutante from The Hills, would become an eco spokeswoman?! It turns out that her website has some fabulous eco-chic gift lists!

1. 5 Eco-chic Gift Ideas

2. XO(eco) collection for Blue Avocado

3. Gift Guide for The Hostess

Green Motown Holiday Cruise is This Weekend!

Boston Green Fest and the Foundation for a Green Future are hosting a Green Motown Holiday Cruise this Saturday, December 8, 2012!

Tickets include:
Boston Harbor Cruise
Concert featuring The Drifters and The Platters
Three-course Gourmet Meal

Sponsored by Westin Copley Hotel
Followed by an After Pary at FiRE & ICE in Cambridge.

Reserve your tickets here asap!

Make a Splash with Eco Gifts from the New England Aquarium

Last week I shared some gift ideas from The Nature Conservancy, and now that December is here, the holidays are speedily approaching! Below are some more eco-conscious gift ideas - these ones come from the New England Aquarium.

image courtesy of http://www.neaq.org

BOSTON, Mass. – This holiday season, make all of your family and friends’ aquatic dreams come true and dive into a sea of unique eco-friendly gifts at the New England Aquarium.  Think outside the box and show your loved ones you care about them as well as the blue planet and its creatures. Your purchase will not only bring joy and inspiration to others but will also help to support the Aquarium’s education, conservation and research programs.

Surprise someone with an unforgettable one-to-one animal encounter at $75 for Aquarium members and $100 for non-members, or make someone a Proud Parent animal sponsor of a baby seal, sea turtle or penguin with sponsorship levels starting at just $35. Looking for something bigger? Make a donation to the Aquarium in the name of a loved one or as a sponsor of a North Atlantic right whale. Can’t get enough of the Aquarium’s adorable aquatic creatures? Visit the Aquarium’s gift shop to find an array of plush stuffed animals, marine-themed apparel and various educational and interactive toys and games.

Looking for something that lasts beyond the holidays?  Give the gift that keeps on giving with a one-year Aquarium membership with prices starting at $85 based on membership levels. With unlimited express admission and discounts to Aquarium programs, your friend or family member is guaranteed to learn something new with every visit.  Benefits of a one-year Aquarium membership include - but are not limited to - invitations to exclusive members-only events, discounted tickets to the Aquarium’s IMAX theater and a free subscription to blue, the Aquarium’s quarterly member magazine, and SeaMail, the Aquarium’s monthly member e-newsletter.

With products and experiences appropriate for all ages and a mission to preserve the world’s oceans, holiday shopping has never been so fun, easy or rewarding. Stop by the Aquarium’s on-site gift shop located in the lobby of the Aquarium’s West Wing, open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., or, explore the Aquarium’s online gift shop:www.neaq.org/gifts. Can’t find what you’re looking for?  Call 617-973-5266 or emailneaqstore@eventnetwork.com.