Fun Friday: Crafty Valentines

It's getting close. That fateful day where we share love, candy, and words of affirmation. Valentine's Day is Tuesday and I wanted to share with you some of my favorite ideas for fun alternatives to the regular valentine day card.

1. The Candy Alternative by Saltwater Kids (see directions here)

                        

2. A Crafty Book for your honey by PaperVine (see directions here)

  

3. Something Fishy by Faboolous (see directions here)

           
                     

Happy Loving!

Wedding Wednesday: Getting green, literally

While we often talk about green weddings, it dawned on me that there was an actual green element we might have been missing...plants! So today is dedicated to incorporating natural lush greens such as succulents, grass, herbs, and vines, to truly make your wedding green. 

Succulents:

These delightful green plants have roots, stems, and leaves that store water to survive long droughts. They make great favors since they require limited amounts of watering and survive for long periods of time when placed in windowsills with great light. Not to mention, they can add a great earthy green tone or even a gray-blue hue to any color pallet. 

                    
By:            Beautiful Bridal                               Heavenly Blooms                          Santa Barbara Chic

                     

Fresh Herbs:

From thyme to basil, jasmine and mint, herbs add a burst of fragrance and a rustic natural feeling to a tablescape or bouquet. Place them in a silver pot and send them home with your guests to add to their garden or incorporate into dinner next week.

             
By:                  The Wedding Dish                                                               Aislinn Events 

                                  
                                                                        Kate Miller Events

Grass:

While outdoor events will naturally have a grass element incorporated, there are other fun ways to use earth's natural blanket. 

                   
By:        Wedding and Cakes                        Simple Perfect Weddings                    Wedding Bee

Happy Greening!

      

Eco-Monday: Treat your dog to a....spa day?

Let’s admit it, despite their cute smiles and floppy ears, a smelly dog can be kinda embarrassing for any pet owner. Luckily there is Happytails, a canine spa line that is not only healthy for your dog but also healthy for the environment. Their entire line of products is made from all natural ingredients, such as colloidal oatmeal for your itchy dog, ordenone (all natural water soluble ingredient) for a smelly dog, and parsley extract for bad breath. 

          

The company ensures high quality ingredients and excellent customer service so that you can get any product you need for a happy and healthy dog. The bottles they use are made from post-consumer resin and the stickers are from FiberStone, a paperless product which avoids the use of trees. This company really covers the gamut of products any dog could need to treat themselves to a day at the spa.  The site showcases various testimonies, including “What can we say but WOW. We love your products.” 

Eventful Wednesday: Take a stroll on Ice

Some art to get you in the "wintery" mood. 

If you couldn't tell, December always reminds me of ice skating and hot chocolate. This year spend a day ice skating at the National Sculpture Gallery, a great outdoor rink that offers fun ambiance and helps to get anyone ready for the winter season. 

Ice Rink Hours

Monday–Thursday, 10:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.

Friday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.

Sunday, 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.

For the full website click here.

Eco-Monday: Give the Gift of Sustainability

As you start to make lists for what to get your grandparents or your Uncle Bob this year, stop and take a look at Branch. 

Starting in a small one-bedroom warehouse in 2005, Branch now operates out of a warehouse in San Francisco. What drew us in was their great business philosophy:

-They care about sustainability, design, and people

-They curate their inventory based on the things they would want to have in their own homes 

-With a small team feel, Branch has great relationships with the manufacturers, designers, 

  and customers

-They want to make sure every customer is treated with the best and friendly service

In looking over their inventory, Branch offers an entire line of compostable plates, flatware, and cups for your holiday party needs. Even though you are spreading the holiday cheer, you won't be spreading the waste. 

Are your stockings looking tattered? Branch offers a classic Christmas stocking with an updated concern for the environment that combines a reclaimed boat sail and a classic red organic cotton trim. 

Need a good stocking stuffer for your hubby who is always on the run? Branch has a great line of reusable coffee mugs sure to make anyone happy. 

Happy Shopping!

Eventful Wednesday: A GWE Thanks Giving

Here at Green with Envy we wanted to share some of the things that we are giving thanks for this year:

Sweetgreen - their salads and their partnership

Wonderful Clients - from intimate to large scale, our clients are always great

Great opportunities - this year has brought us new experiences and creative adventures

Our supportive hubbies, Dan and Steve

Our wonderful children, Siena and Leo

Family & Friends

and our blog followers

Happy Thanksgiving!

Eco-Monday: Paint the Halls

An easy way to add an eco-friendly element to your house is through paint. When it's time to add a new coat to the kitchen or transform that upstairs bathroom, consider using eco-friendly paint. Average paints contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are often emitted as gases. These chemicals are not healthy for the environment of your house or the environment as a whole. Instead, purchase paints that are approved by the Green Seal Standards. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to improving the environmental standards for many common products. Milk paint is a great alternative because it does not emit VOCs and works well as an interior paint for your house. Any eco-friendly paint uses water as a base instead of a petrochemical base and come in cans composed of 100% recyclable metals. 

Three paints to consider buying are:

1. Benjamin Moore Aura - specifically the GreenGuard

2. Olympic Premium - the Green Seal 

3. Sherwin-Williams Harmony