Happy New Year! A list of twelve things you can do to be "greener" this year

I found this great article about how to be more environmentally friendly this year...a list of twelve things. How about trying one each month to make it feel less overwhelming? It is a great reminder for all of us. I am going to give it a go......hope you do too! Here is the link below
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/danielle-nierenberg/going-green-12-simple-ste_b_1173059.html?ref=green&ir=Green

Clothing made from recycled thrift store finds and work room scraps-you won't believe how amazing this stuff looks!

 Patti Popovich, owner of S and Patti Designs, saw a sweater in a high end catalog one day and thought that instead of paying $300, she would try and make it herself! Seven years and dozens of successful craft fairs later, Patti's "reconstructed textiles" are causing a stir. She has grown her business to include women's clothing, children's clothing, pillows, stuffed toys-her famous one eared dog is a top favorite-hand made button and trims, and a lovely Blue Angel that is meant to sleep with anyone who needs some comfort in life. To really appreciate her work, you have to see it in person, but I will include a few photos here just so you can see how amazing the product is. Her products are made from 99% recycled fabrics that she gets either from the thrift store or from scraps that upholstery workrooms have laying around ready for the dumpster.

The price range of her one of a kind women's sweater are from $69 up to $200, a steal when you consider that they are hand made and each one is unique.

And it gets even better; Patti's long term vision is to use this skill to teach youths at the Conservation Core how to create their own clothing that they can then begin their own businesses with.

You can contact Patti at patti@poppydesignservice.com to find out about her next show.

                              Children's sweater made from recycled sweater and old pajamas from France

                                                            Hand made button detail

                                                        Patti at one of her craft shows

                                                                       Craft show

                                                                    Blue Angel

This year I dared to be the mom who did NOT give out gift bags at my son's birthday party!

Tired of the trend of having to give out gifts at my own child's birthday party, I did the unthinkable....I did not give any out. I even when a step further and asked for no gifts for my son either. He is four so I can still get away with it. We had a bowling party and the kids and parents had so much fun, we all forgot about gifts all together. One parent even thanked me for not doing gift bags so she would not have to bring home more useless junk that will just eventually break and be in a landfill. See if you can break that tradition too-I bet no one will think you are cheap or odd, they will probably be grateful for the "out" themselves!

The Christmas Dilemma

This year my son turns four-in a few days-which means his birthday and Christmas are just two weeks apart. I have been trying to figure out how to keep the volume of gifts down but still make the days special. What I have come up with for his birthday is one gift from me, one from the grandparents and one from the cousins and a party with friends with no presents for his birthday. Christmas is the same plus a stocking. Just wondering if any of you have an idea that seems better? Finding the balance of making the holidays fun and exciting while also teaching your child to appreciate less "stuff" is such a challenge in this commercial economy and culture!

Story Of Stuff-Thoughts on Black Friday

A great point of view about what Black Friday means to this planet!
Read Below:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-leonardridgeway-blackfriday-20111125,0,2159130.story

Back from vacation

I just had one of the best vacation ever in the Pacific NW-a must for all nature lovers!
But, back to work now so I want to get right to it and tell you about a great FREE event happening next month in Berkeley. The Ecology center is having a talk and slide show Thursday the 8th of September discussing how cities can follow the many examples from around the world on how to create communities that do not rely on automobiles for getting around. Walkable, bikeable, and good public transportation are all keys. You will leave with solid, concrete ways that you can implement into your life as well as ways in which you can encourage your city to take the needed steps towards becoming more eco-friendly. Check out the following site for further information:
http://www.ecologycenter.org/calendar/event.php?title=From+Auto-Cities+to+EcoCities%3A+Examples+from+Around+the+Globe&eventID=36171

An organization you should know about

I have recently discovered a wonderful non-profit called Generation Green that works with local Contra Costa County officials to help to create green practice examples for the city and their local businesses. They hold workshops, informative movie nights, seminars and work with both QUEST and PG and E to help cities benchmark their progress and communicate this progress to other cities in their district. Is sounds a bit dry,I know,  but what they are doing is really remarkable....city by city, they are helping to eliminate greenhouse gasses emitted in the Bay Area.  check them out at www.cccclimateleaders.org