Monthly Archives: December 2011
Lack of Posts
| December 30, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Uncategorized |
Thought I should let everyone that isn’t on the Facebook page know that I haven’t been posting because I got sick shortly before Christmas. Still fighting it and the lovely asthma that has come along with it. I’m not really sleeping so writing isn’t happening. Hopefully I will be better soon and will get back to posting. Hope everyone had a wonderful and healthy Christmas!
Green Gift Guide: Last Minute
| December 21, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under DIY, Green Holiday Guide, Green Holidays |
Christmas is only 3 days and a few hours away! If you still need a few more gifts don’t worry, here are a few last minute ideas.
This salt scrub is super easy to make and you likely already have everything you need around your home. You can also find out to make an easy peppermint sugar scrub on Going Green Mama’s blog or make this lavender sugar scrub which you can find on Condo Blues.
A subscription to Conscious Box is a great last minute gift for anyone on your list that is wanting to go green or already has started. They will get lots of great green products to try out delivered right to their door. Just put a note in a card saying when their first box will arrive and a little bit about it.
Eco Karen has tons of great ideas on her blog, like this beautiful scarf made from t-shirts!
This rag wreath is very easy and can be made using scraps of fabric you have laying around the house.
Someone on your list just move to a new home? Why not make them these cute Christmas placemats from Condo Blues.
Baked goods is another easy gift and great for people that already have everything or limited space. Here are some of my easy cookie recipes.
Sunflower Butter Cookies
Snickerdoodle
Hidden Mint Cookies
Iced Sugar Cookies
Sugar Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Sugar Cookies with Peppermint Icing
You can make gift donations for people on your list, it’s like giving two gifts in one. You can find many donation options on Heifer International, Alternative Gift Market, and for the animal lovers World Wildlife Fund.
Have good last minute gift ideas? Share in the comments below.
Soft Sugar Cookies with Peppermint Icing
| December 20, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Green Holiday Guide, Green Holidays, Recipe |
I love sugar cookie dough because you can do so many things with it. I already have posted three different cookies you can make from this dough and this is a forth one I came up with this year. I took it to a Christmas party last week and it was a huge hit, everyone was raving about them.
Sugar Cookie Dough
Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375?
- In a small bowl mix together flour, baking powder, and baking soda, set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until smooth.
- Beat in egg and vanilla.
- Gradually add dry ingredients.
- Bake for about 8-10 minutes or until just starting to get golden. DO NOT OVER BAKE! These cookies are only soft if you don’t over bake them.
- Let the cookies cool before icing.
Peppermint Icing
This icing is as easy as it gets. Just mix some powdered sugar (the amount depends on how many cookies you are making, I always start with a bit less than I think I need, you can make more if you need to), just enough water to make it in to a thick icing, it doesn’t take much! Once you have that mixed up start adding the peppermint oil, for about a 1/2 cup of icing I started with 1/8 of a teaspoon of peppermint flavor and added more (just a drop at a time, it’s strong!) until I got the right amount of peppermint. I also added a little bit of natural food coloring but this is optional, you could also add sprinkles or crushed organic candy canes. Once it’s mixed just ice your cooled cookies, let them sit so the icing hardens and you are all done!
The picture in this post is of just a plain iced sugar cookie because I didn’t have time to take one of the peppermint cookies.
Review + Giveaway: Conscious Box
| December 19, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Giveaway, Green Holiday Guide, Green Holidays |
Conscious Box is a new and unique way to try out lots of great eco-friendly products without having to spend a lot of money. It’s also a great gift for anyone just starting on their green journey. You simply subscribe on the site and you will have a box delivered to you each month.
What the box contains will change each month. The box for December contained samples like Berryplus laundry soap, Chimes Ginger Chews, Yummy Earth Organic Lollipop, 22 Days Daily Mocha Mantra bar, ORAC Green Superfood, drTungs Snap-On Toothbrush Sanitizer, Sparklehearts Sparkly Body Lotion, Eat Cleaner Fruit + Vegetable Wipe, Goatmilk soap, Mineral Fusion Mineral Boday Lotion, Sacred Mountain Herbals Champa Vegan Soap, Earth Friendly Products Uni-Fresh Cinnamon Air Freshener, Resveratrol supplement, Yogi Tea, Justin’s Maple Almond Butter, and Dropwise Aromatherapy Mister. That’s a lot of stuff right?!
It’s such a fun way to try lots of new things. Go check out Conscious Box and subscribe for yourself and/or get it as a late Christmas gift. Even though it won’t get to the person before Christmas you can just give them a note explaining their subscription.
And guess what? In honor of the holidays Conscious Box is offering a box to one lucky reader. Just read the directions below to enter.
And now for the rules-
1. Post your e-mail!!!!! Every time people forget, you can’t win if you don’t leave an e-mail address. (If it’s on your profile that counts, just make sure I can find it)
2. Go to Conscious Box and tell me what you like best about this idea.
3. Enter by December 27th at 11:59 p.m.
Extra Entries (post separate comment for each):
- Blog about the giveaway, post link.
- Post on Twitter, post link.
- Add me on Twitter @retrohousewife5, leave username in comment.
- Follow me, let me know which way you are following. (Google, NetworkedBlog, E-mail, other)
- Add my button to your site. (the button and code are on the right side of the page) Be sure to leave a link for where you put the button.
- Subscribe to the Retro Housewife Goes Green newsletter.
- Like Retro Housewife Goes Green on Facebook.
- Add Retro Housewife Goes Green to your Google+ Circles.
- Like Conscious Box on Facebook.
- Follow @Consciousbox on Twitter.
Remember post a separate comment for each of the above ways to enter! They will only count if they are separate. Each extra entry only counts once.
This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents, 18+ only. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Winner will be selected December 28th and will have 7 days to respond or a new winner will be picked.
*This giveaway is sponsored by Conscious, the prizes comes from them. I was not paid for this post, I did receive some samples but this doesn’t effect my views.
Greener Holiday Gift Wrapping
| December 13, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Green Holiday Guide, Green Holidays |
Christmas generates around 300,000 tons of trash each year, a large amount of that being wrapping paper. That’s a lot of waste for something we use for just a few minutes. There are many great options to help reduce the amount of waste you create this year, here are a few.
Each year I save as much of the wrapping I end up with as I can. You can also wrap your gifts using things like magazines, brown paper bags, and even newspaper.
If you want to use new wrapping paper be sure to look for recycled paper. Here are some favorites:
Snail’s Pace has beautiful gift bags, paper ribbons, tags and wrapping that is made from recycled materials and soy inks using renewable energy. The products are made at the Saint Meinrad Archabbey the on-site printing facility, Abbey Press. Saint Meinrad is home to about 100 men who have dedicate their lives to prayer and work. They believe in serving the greater good and caring for God’s creation.
CrinkleCo has recycled gift wrap kits that come with everything you need to wrap your gifts this year, including the tape! You can also get gift bag kits and pillow box kits, both are super cute.
This cute wraps are made by Lyziwraps and are very easy to use, no fancy folding required. You can get them on Reuseit and some of the colors are currently on sale (as of Dec. 13th, 2011).
How are you going to wrap your gifts this year?
*I was given a sample from ChicoBags to be able to review the product. I am also an affiliate for Reuseit and earn a small percent if you buy from the links on my page. I was not paid to post this or any other post. Thess are my honest thoughts and views.
Green Gift Guide: Pets/Pet Lovers
| December 11, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Green Holiday Guide, Green Holidays, Uncategorized |
These cute leash pouches from Purrfect Play are made from old wool sweaters. They are great for training or walks. On walks you can even put a few baggies in it for clean up during the walk.
You don’t want your pet chewing on toxic toys, don’t worry there are options out there. These ropes from Purrfect Play are made from organic cotton and are plastic-free and non-toxic. They are also strong and your dog is sure to love it.
These adorable balls are also from Purrfect Play and are a lot of fun for your cats. They are made from organic wool.
BW Barkery has these cute little candy cane shaped organic dog treats that your dog will love!
BW Barkery has treats for the cats in your life as well. They are also made from organic ingredients that your cat is sure to love.
Collars with Colors has some very cute cat collars that are perfect for the holidays. They are made using organic cotton and ribbons.
For your dogs check out these organic holiday collars from Very Vintage. They are adorable and very affordable.
This penguin is not only super cute but is also made of organic fabrics and all-natural dyes. You can get it from Only Natural Pet Store.
*I was not paid to post this. These are my honest thoughts and views. I’m an affiliate for Only Natural Pet Store and earn a small amount if you buy from them from my page. However, this doesn’t effect my views.
Green Gift Guide: Teens
| December 8, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Green Holiday Guide, Green Holidays, Uncategorized |
SodaStream soda makers are a fun and useful gift. They don’t use any power, the C02 does all the work. They come in several styles and they loads of flavor syrups you can use or you can make your own.
These speakers work with iPods, mp3 players, multimedia cell phones, portable DVD players and portable gaming devices that use a standard 3.5mm audio frequency jack. They don’t require batteries or to be plugged in. You can currently get them on sale at The Ultimate Green Store.
If your teen is into sports these Fair Trade Sports Balls are a great gift. They are made with eco-friendly materials, are certified fair trade, vegan, and compliant with the international ball standards. The Ultimate Green Store has several of these sports balls on sale right now.
These bracelets are made from real guitar strings. They are made using lead-free nickel and brass. You can get them from Uncommon Goods.
This clock is powered by water! It requires no batteries or electricity. They are affordable and come in four cool colors. You can get them from Green Cupboards.
This bean bag can be customized for your teen. You can pick from several eco-friendly fabric options and even have it filled with natural latex instead of plastic. You can also have their name put on it. You can get these from Bean Products.
If your teen has an iPad a CuscoSac is a great gift idea. They are made from natural cotton and are a great eco-friendly option for protecting the iPad. CuscoSac makes sleeves for other devices as well.
ChicoBags are great for teens to throw in their cars, backpacks, purses, etc… They are very strong and compact reusable bags. There are a lot of great colors and styles.
iTunes gift cards are a good choice for teens as well. With iTunes they can get digital music, movies, tv shows, books and more, with the digital copies there is less waste. Also great if you don’t know what the teen likes.
*I was not paid to post this. These are my honest thoughts and views. I’m an affiliate for Bean Products, Green Cupboards and The Ultimate Green Store and earn a small amount if you buy from them from my page. However this doesn’t effect my views.
Green Gift Guide: Men
| December 8, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Green Holiday Guide, Green Holidays |
These iPhone 4/4S cases from Miniwiz are made from 100% trash! The material is made using rice farming by-products and post-consumer thermo-plastics. It’s recyclable and very strong. The case also has texture to make it easier to hold.
These custom etched mugs from Jackglass are sure to be a hit. They are etched using sand instead of chemicals. You can get their favorite sports team or whatever image they will enjoy, making this a one of a kind gift. These are great for the man in your life that has everything.
This grooming set from Herban Lifetstyle comes with shaving oil, facial soap, after shave and facial lotion. All of the products use organic and vegan ingredients and are free of chemical preservatives, artificial colors, and synthetic fragrances. They also come in an eco-friendly bag with an eco-friendly gift tag.
Rain Organics Vodka paired with the book Organic, Shaken and Stirred by Paul Abercrombie and some Glass Dharma straws will make a great gift for any man in your life that enjoys making drinks at home.
These laptop sleeves from GreenSmart are made of Neogreene, which is a water-based material that uses 25% less petroleum and energy than neoprene. There are no VOCs, chlorine, or formaldehyde. The interior lining is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. The sleeve is waterproof and is designed to help a hot laptop cool down faster. They come in several colors and can be found at The Ultimate Green Store.
For the gadget lovers check out the Solio Classic Universal Hybrid Charger they work for multiple items including iPhones. One hour of sun = 15 minutes talk time or 40 minutes of MP3 music. They also can store energy for up to a year so they are great to take with you if you won’t have somewhere to charge your devices.
Thinksound earbuds are great for the music lovers on your list. They feature great sound quality, are PVC-free, and have beautiful wooden housing. They also have four different sized flexible silicon ear inserts for a secure fit. The packaging also features minimal plastic.
Klean Kanteen’s Reflect bottle is plastic and paint-free. It’s made from safe stainless steel, has a bamboo screw on cap and the logo is laser etched. These bottles will last for years to come. It’s available from Reuseit.com.
Disclaimer: I was not paid to post this or any other post. These are my honest thoughts and views. I’m an affiliate for Ultimate Green Store, Amazon, and Reuseit and earn a small amount if you buy from them from my page. I also got a review item from Miniwiz. However this doesn’t effect my views.
Green Gift Guide: Women
| December 7, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Green Holiday Guide, Green Holidays |
This super cute bag from Envirosax is made from organic cotton from Peru. The cotton helps support a local farmers co-op. It is certified organic by GOTS. These bags are very strong and will hold over 20 lbs! You can also use the bag to wrap another present in for a super eco-friendly gift.
This beautiful necklace from Brilliant Earth is made using recycled silver and an ethically sourced pink sapphire. The necklace is reasonable priced under $150. If this piece is out of your price range Brilliant Earth has some pieces at and under $100.
These Lifefactory bottles sold by Essential Safe Products are made of glass making them safe and taste free. They feature a silicon sleeve which helps protect the bottle. They are very strong and are dishwasher safe. The glass is made in France and the silicon sleeves are made in the USA.
These unique and beautiful new scarves from Maggie’s Organics are made from organic cotton which is also Fair Trade. They are very affordable at just $20!
Jewelry from reVetro is sure to impress. The pieces are made from upcycled liquor bottles. The one in the picture is made from a Bombay Sapphire bottle. They are handcrafted and affordable.
For the candy lover check out all the wonderful natural and organic options at the Natural Candy Store. They even have pre-made gifts like the one in the picture for super easy gifts.
Organic Bouquet has many beautiful eco-friendly Christmas gifts like this unique pine peace wreath. You can also find other beautiful wreaths, flowers, plants, food and more.
This soft robe from The Ultimate Green Store is made from organic cotton and is great for the chilly days this winter. To make this an even better gift, you can get free shipping with all orders over $50.
Disclaimer: I was not paid to post this or any other post. These are my honest thoughts and views. I’m an affiliate for Ultimate Green Store and Natural Candy Store and earn a small amount if you buy from them from my page. I also got a review item from Essential Safe Products. However this doesn’t effect my views.
Green Holiday Guide Twitter Party Recap
| December 6, 2011 | Posted by Lisa Sharp under Green Holiday Guide, Twitter Party |
This past Sunday night was the Green Holiday Guide Twitter Party. The Ultimate Green Store was the sponsor and it was a lot of fun. If you haven’t checked out The Ultimate Green Store, what are you waiting for? It’s a great store with something for everyone. They have some great items on sale right now and you can get free shipping if you spend more than $50.
I didn’t have internet during the party, which was just loads of fun *sarcasm*, which meant I had to use my phone to host the party. Let me tell you that is NOT easy. Because of this technical issue it was so hard and time consuming to draw for the prizes that only one was given out during the party. Now that I have internet again I have drawn the names for the remaining prizes, here they are.
The winner of the Eco Tools Recycled Aluminum Retractable Kabuki Brush is bcherry82.
The winner of the Aon Box Eco-friendly “Scrolls & Sculls” Collapsible Portable Green Speakers is caramia9
The winner of the Rock Star Organic Shampoo & Conditioner Gift Tote is OrganicNYmilk1
The winner of the DayNa Decker Provence Lavender Couture Chandel is jessicahenke
Congrats to all of the winners!! And if you missed it here are just a small sample from the party.
retrohousewife5 most fake Xmas trees are made of PVC which has lead. Local sustainably trees are better, however I’m allergic to the real thing as are many others. There are fake trees made of safer PE plastic
kpswagger If a gift comes in a box, I always make sure to recycle the box
retrohousewife5 Men can be hard 2 buy for but @UltGreenStore has some great gift ideas like this Eco laptop case http://t.co/fvhYTygB
lovinmomma88 I like the variety of items they carry! @ultgreenstore guaranteed that u’ll find something need/want
retrohousewife5 my husband is a teacher and always takes a @kleankanteen everyday so it’s a good option for teachers
lovinmomma88 using tote bags..its better than paper bags, it two gifts in one 
kpswagger Wrap the gift in something useful.
NeilZabka918 Have my son be Picasso this year he will help me creat some scribble masterpiece wrapping paper.
klcmaher You can recycle those shipping tubes posters come in and pack cookies in them!
mellanhead we use reusable fabric bags that we make and tie with a hair band or ribbon
kpswagger Nothing like a good green plant as a gift next year you can take a piece, re-pot & pass the gift along.
This is just a tiny sampling of what happened at the Twitter Party. If you couldn’t make it keep don’t worry there will be more parties coming up soon! Also be sure to check the sponsor The Ultimate Green Store.
Disclaimer: The prizes come from Ultimate Green Store and not from me. I was paid to host this party but all views stated by me (@retrohousewife5) are my honest views. Ultimate Green Store and Lisa Sharp are not responsible for the content at the Twitter party. The prizes are open to U.S. and Canada residents, 18+ only. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. The number of RSVP entries received determines the odds of winning. Winner will be selected at the party and will have 7 days to respond or a new winner will be picked.
