DIY Favors: Tea Bags

Anyone who knows me knows I have an absolute obsession when it comes to tea. I drink several cups of green tea daily. I’ve been known to take baths infused with green and white tea. I spent way too many hours in college hanging out at this hip little tearoom, sipping as much tea as the staff would serve me. Hence, it’s probably no surprise that I find the idea of homemade tea bags to be an adorable favor option. By using an organic variety of loose tea as well as natural, unbleached tea bags, you and your team of bridesmaids can easily create inexpensive, unexpected, eco-chic offerings for your guests.

Photos: Martha Stewart & Project Wedding 

Reuse, Reuse, Reuse: Birdcage Lights

Here is just another (beautiful and entirely romantic) example of how to reuse common items by repurposing them into something entirely new.

Photo: Dog n Bird

Unique Favors: Try a Cup of Tea

Several weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting some individuals from the wonderful company Teatulia while browsing at the NYC Gift Show. Teatulia grows all of its tea using organic, sustainable and entirely responsible methods in a single tea garden in Bangladesh (in fact, the only USDA certified organic tea garden in Bangladesh). Their teas are excellent (I am a big fan of their white tea) and come in simple, yet pretty packaging, making any of their products a perfect hostess gift, small favor, etc. 

Photos: Teatulia

Simple Table Setting

There is something to be said for keeping things simple. However, these days, the wedding industry seems to embrace just the opposite of this, thriving on over-the-top extravagance and unnecessary detail. Here is an example of a beautiful table setting that embraces simplicity and comes away a little bit more chic as a result.

Photo: Project Wedding

Easy DIY Centerpieces

Here is a super easy way to showcase some of your favorite stemware and assemble chic centerpieces at the same time. Rather than purchasing new vases or containers to house flowers, gather some of your favorite goblets, wine glasses and the like. Arrange glasses upside on your tabletop and display a large, fresh-cut and colorful bloom beneath each glass (no water needed!). Then, decorate the "bottom" of each glass with a decorative votive (preferably soy or beeswax) for a fun and feminine (and fast) tabletop!
Photo: Rachael Ray via DognBird

Shabby-Chic Table

Although in some cases, a sense of uniformity is not only appreciated, but necessary, consider breaking out of the mold when assembling the seating arrangements for your next party. Instead of opting for the traditional folding chair (which lacks style) or purchasing an entire collection of new chairs (which is both costly and has the potential to be somewhat wasteful), why not borrow an array of seating options from neighbors and friends? Although the chairs may not all be from the same “set,” you can still maintain coherency by using simple tabletop décor that is arranged around a neutral palette.

Photo: Wedding Whims

Unique Table Runners

I get very excited when I find chic examples of people reusing reclaimed materials in fresh ways. Here, vintage player piano reels are given a second life as adorable table runners. The interesting designs on the reels are certain to spark excellent conversation among guests!
Photo: 100 Layer Cake

Gifts of Love

Whether you are married, engaged, just starting a relationship, or a single girl out on the town, Valentine’s Day is an inspired time of year to share small tokens of appreciation with friends and loved ones. During the entire month of February, I’m known for handing out heart-shaped candies to nearly everyone who crosses my path and for hiding handwritten Valentine’s around my apartment for my boyfriend to stumble upon. If you plan on hosting an intimate V-day dinner for two, a lunch for your closest girlfriends, or any shade of cupid-worthy party this week, consider celebrating your love with some of the adorable gift ideas below (all of which would also serve as romantic favors or gifts for a wedding or any other special occasion.)

Photos: Martha Stewart

Keep love in full bloom by offering your Valentine a packet of seeds adorned with a personalized note.

Instead of heart-shaped candies, offer your guests these sweet, handmade soaps.

Why give a gift that will be thrown away? Give thanks to your favorite chef with a trio of patchwork potholders that she is sure to use for many months.

Enjoy a simple moment with a loved one while sipping a warm cup of tea.

African violets trimmed to resemble hearts are a quirky reminder of your love.

Any booklover is certain to cherish this heart-shaped bookmark, perfect for marking the pages of any great love story.

Recycle old ties by crafting them into feminine silk envelopes.

Cover all of your tasty Valentine’s Day baked goods in these lovely wax wrappings to make an even sweeter treat.

We Moved!

Woo Hoo! We're happy you've tracked us down at our new address! We hope this will be a more permanent home for us! Take some time to browse around. You'll find all of our old posts, as well as a few new ones, too. Also, you might enjoy our new archive system, which can be found at the bottom of every post, and ever so politely recommends you to past posts. Neat, huh? And when you're done browsing, please let us know what you think of the new site. Comments? Suggestions? Love at first sight? We accept all sorts of commentary (though humor is most appreciated).

We're on a bit of a hiatus for a few days as far as new posts go, but by next week, we'll be back on track to bring you lots of fresh, fun and contemporary tips for throwing excellent green events. There are some great things in the works. Everything from tips to help you plan your perfect Valentine's Day get-together to a round up of all of the wonderful (green) artisans we had the chance to meet last week at the NYC Gift Show.

Thanks for your support. Keep spreading the word!

xoxo

Vintage Glamour

Vendor: Timeless Vixen

When it comes to the most important element of any fabulous party, for me, it always comes down to one thing: the perfect outfit. Whether you are attending/hosting a wedding, a cocktail party or a luncheon, special occasions, in my opinion, nearly always call for a special party dress (or at the very least, a special accessory). Timeless Vixen boasts an amazing assortment of vintage dresses, many of which have a fun, flirty 1950’s feel and yet manage to come across as modern at the same time. Like most vintage clothing retailers, their prices vary, according to each piece. For those with thin wallets, browse their adorable and affordable day dresses. For those looking to splurge, view their gorgeous evening and wedding dresses. Either way, you are bound to end up with something completely unique, completely beautiful and completely green.