Green Vegas Weddings

Tying the knot in Vegas: Something borrowed, something green

This is such an excellent article, compliments of www.terracurve.com, about one Las Vegas resort’s new green wedding packages.

Swap Party!

Photo: Etsy

Although my friends don’t know it yet, I’m secretly planning an upcoming Swap Party. I like to think of swap parties as the grown-up version of rustling through your best friend’s closet in search of the perfect “going-out” shirt or accessory. The concept is pretty much the same – rather than buy something new, borrow or “swap” the perfect item instead. Use the opportunity to both clean out your closets and spend some time with good friends.

Start by sending out a simple (preferably electronic) invite that sets some ground rules for the party. For instance, each guest is expected to bring no more than ten items that are in good condition to swap. Also, in order to encourage your guests to linger for a bit of post-swap gossip, ask everyone to bring an appetizer or a bottle of wine.

On the day of the party, as guests arrive, arrange all items to swap in one central area, such as on and around the dining room table. Offer guests a collection of gift tags or clothespins marked with their names so that they can “claim” items that they like. Guests are invited to take home one new item for every “swap” item they brought in tow. Once everyone has picked out some new goodies, ask guests to assist you in boxing up the remaining items to donate to a local do-good organization, such as a women’s shelter, a school, or a Salvation Army.

Vintage Wedding Dresses

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Vintage Wedding Dresses

Check out this great article about how to find the perfect vintage wedding dress (with some cute photos, too!).

Fair Trade Table Linens

Photo: The Africa House

Recently, I’ve been on the hunt for an interesting table runner. I have a beautiful, round white kitchen table, which I originally loved for its simplicity; however, lately, I’ve been somewhat bored by its, well, bareness. Theafricahouse.com offers beautiful tablecloths, table runners and napkins that are perfect for the everyday or for entertaining. But the beautiful designs and reasonable prices are not the best part: all products featured on the website are created under fair trade conditions. When you log on, in addition to checking out the many artful textiles, be sure to view the leather-beaded napkin rings, adorably adorned with a beaded heart design – the perfect compliment for any Valentine’s Day table setting.

"Paperless" Invites

Photo: Lucky
An excellent compromise between staying green and staying stylish can be found at www.paperlesspost.com. This unique website allows you to send chic (paperless) invitations, greeting cards and save-the-date cards completely virtually, thus eliminating the need for both wasted paper and wasted postage. The site boasts electronic card designs that are as elegant as those found on any reputable, traditional invite, as well as a streamlined RSVP function that allows you to monitor and track when your recipients open and reply to their cards. Getting started is easy: visitors simply sign up for free and then pay per “stamp”, with one “stamp” equaling one piece of sent paperless mail. Cards can be customized to include photos, logos and even envelope “liners.” The site currently features Valentine’s Day cards and Super Bowl Party invites, just in time for your upcoming festivities!

Simplify! Simplify!

“Our life is frittered away by detail…Simplify, simplify.” -Henry David Thoreau”

Creative Napkin "Rings"

Photo: Etsy

Recycled vintage brooches pinned to neatly rolled or folded napkins are a simple way to add a bit of sparkle to any table setting. Online boutiques, such as Etsy.com, offer a mix of styles to browse, from elegant crystal pieces to bold, colorful floral shapes to unusual insect-inspired pins. For coherency, stick with a single color or theme and then select mismatched brooches that will match your desired style.

Stamped-Edge Book Centerpiece

Photo: Martha Stewart

Now that the holidays are over, many of us tend to spend time cleaning up our lives…literally. For me, this usually involves cleaning out closets and drawers in an effort to make more room for the gifts I received and to get myself organized for a new year. Often, this is a season when I like to fill up bags with clothing and gently used house ware items to donate. However, these organizational adventures are also a great time to search out some (perhaps overlooked) household items that can easily be given new decorative life at one of the many events you will host in the upcoming year.

One idea that I recently came across is to create small table centerpieces using books. As you clean out your home in the coming weeks, look for old books that you have stored in cabinets and in various nooks around your home. Though their content doesn’t matter, try to locate books that are hardcover and are a range of sizes. Once you have selected the books, remove their paper flaps to reveal beautifully colored covers. Stack the books on top of one another and secure the pile with a piece of fabric, twine or ribbon. For an added touch, decorate the books’ edges using rubber stamps. Design your wedding or shower tabletops by selecting stamps that will display inspired words, such as “congratulations” or “love.” If you’re hosting a child’s birthday party, stamp the edges of the books with the name of each child in attendance. For a small lunch or dinner party, try pressing each book’s edge with an appropriate seasonal stamp, such as a branch or leaf for a fall gathering or a nautical design for a summer get-together.

This is an easy centerpiece idea that embraces the idea of “reuse,” costs very little, and can be easily arranged in just a few minutes when unexpected company arrives.

A Meaningful Quote

“I adore the simple pleasures. They are the last refuge of the complex.” - Oscar Wilde”

Christmas Decor

Christmas is only a few days away, which means these next few evenings will be filled with holiday parties. I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite eco-friendly Christmas decorations from the web that are certain to warm up your home and add an extra dose of style to your next gathering.

Trail Holiday Stockings
In need of something new to hang from the mantle this year? These modern and festive stockings are adorned with nature-inspired graphic prints. Made from hemp and certified organic cotton, these stockings are both printed and sewn in Los Angeles. (www.bambeco.com, sale price $25.00/each)

Renewal Candles
These winter-inspired pillars are crafted to look like natural birch logs.  Clean-burning and fragrance-free, each candle is made from recycled wax. (www.bambeco.com, sale price, $15.00-$18.00/each)

Felt Bird Ornaments
A set of playful felt swallows is the perfect addition for your tree or tabletop this year. These German-made ornaments are crafted from 100% eco-certified wool and hang from delicate satin ribbons. (www.branchhome.com, $18.00/set of two)

Quartz Crystal Ornaments
Each of these crystallized quartz ornaments will look like a beautiful icicle hanging from your holiday tree. (www.vivaterra.com, $44/set of twelve)

Succulent Wreath
A unique reinterpretation of a classic piece of holiday decor, this living wreath is made from a combination of silver, gray and burgundy succulent varieties that require little watering. (www.vivaterra.com, sale price $89-99)

Birch Bark Trees
The perfect compliment for any console or side table, these decorative evergreen-inspired trees are made from natural birch bark. (www.vivaterra.com, $95.00/set of two)