Welcome to Celebrate Green^TM's feature ideas for February

We're happy to present the following material for you to use in whole or in part in blogs or magazine articles.

Here's what you'll find in this email:
1. An article appropriate for an upcoming holiday or celebration
2. Top tips for the holiday
3. Top picks for the holiday
4. Ideas for a holiday/celebration several months out if you have a long lead time

Just a few guidelines:

1. If you use a portion of the article, as a courtesy, please include a link to www.CelebrateGreen.net somewhere in the body or at the end as we have done.

2. If you use the entire article, we'd appreciate it if you would include the following at the end: Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and co-authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, available at www.CelebrateGreen.net  

3. If you need more information, would like to interview us about an upcoming holiday or celebration, or would like to ask about custom material, please contact [email protected] or call 425-793-3590 (Pacific time).

4. If you have any suggestions for how to make this material more useful or have an aspect of a particular holiday or celebration you'd like us to write about, email [email protected]

Thank you and enjoy!

Lynn and Corey
www.CelebrateGreen.net

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Valentine's Day: Lovin' Green While Saving Green

Valentine's Day is about spreading love, not spending money. Believe it or not, you can give beautiful gifts from the heart that cost almost nothing, yet are filled with meaning and keep Mother Earth feelin' the love, too.

The card

Valentine's Day is the second biggest holiday for greeting card sales. Literally billions of cards are sent each year and most come from virgin trees. Making your own cards from recycled and or unconventional materials leaves trees standing and your sweetheart thanking the stars for your creatively thoughtful gesture.

And what to say inside a custom card?

You may not believe you are a writer, but honestly, can a professional truly express what is in your heart in a more meaningful way than you can? Even if you believe she can, just for the fun of it, why not give it a whirl? You (and your love) might be pleasantly surprised. Here are a few pointers for producing poetic prose:

�         Five syllables, seven syllables, five syllables--that's haiku, a simply beautiful form of poetry that you'll catch onto quickly. Read a few, then give it a try.

�         Of course, a letter or free verse is always an option, or if you're really wanting to knock your partner's socks off, how about writing a sonnet?

�         These sound to difficult? Here's an easier, but still romantic idea. Take each letter of the words "My Valentine," and next to it, write something about your beloved. Here's an example:

M My heart
Y You are the only one I'll ever love

V Very best
A Always my partner
L Love you forever
etc.

�         If your words don't capture the exact tone you're looking for, remember that laughter is a gift � even if it is unintentional.

And if you're feeling creative, how about making some seeded paper or thinking inside the box? Select a small box. Cover the outside with pictures of you and your honey or appropriate words cut from a magazine. Inside, place some stones on which you've stamped words of love, a small bag of beans with a tag that says, "I love how you've always BEAN there for me," or come up with a (much) better play on words and items to go with it.

The Gifts

Valentine's gifts usually include one or more of the following: flowers, candy (chocolate of course, is the hands down favorite), jewelry or lingerie. All are wonderful (and usually quite welcome), especially if you think green before purchasing them, (here's how). But even better, are gifts from the heart, those you make yourself. Now don't get all nervous, we've got simple ideas that cost next to nothing, and are oh so simple to pull off.

Before we give you the list, here's a hint. Gift making together can be daring and romantic. For instance, what could you be wearing--or not--while cutting out a couple of dozen paper hearts on which you write your feelings, then hang by thread above your bed--or tape...somewhere else.

Think about making chocolate candy hearts (using organic, Fair Trade, shade grown chocolate of course--check your local natural foods store for baking chocolate). What else could that chocolate be used for? Chocolate paint anyone? Getting the picture? Use your imagination to come up with a Valentine's gift making project that will bring you together in more ways than one!

In addition to the two gift projects above, here are a few other ideas. You may choose to purchase items listed or make do with something you already have:

1. A coupon book good for one massage a month for a year using organic massage oil, and starting on Valentine's Day.

2. An organic cotton pillow case on which you embroider your sentiments or glue on heart shaped pieces of felt (just for display).

3. Glue romantic words on to the backs of a deck of playing cards and type up instructions for strip poker.

4. Pack a small bag with silly and/or romantic everyday objects such as, a roll of toilet paper (be sure to recycle after use), cotton balls, soft brushes or feathers, and silky scarves. Be sure to include the directions: Decorate each other.

For more ideas for Valentine's Day and every holiday and celebration, visit www.CelebrateGreen.net

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Top tips for Valentine's Day

1. Affordable eco-friendly Valentine's merchandise is widely available, especially online. If you're going to buy, seek out the good stuff. Your partner and the planet will thank you.

2. Ask your beloved what he/she really wants and how he/she would like to celebrate Valentine's Day before you assume you know. Doing this can save you time and money as well as create a day filled with meaning instead of stuff.

3. Studies show philanthropy bathes your brain in hormones similar to sex, so spread the love and consider donating to a worthy cause such as American Heart Association.

For more ideas for Valentine's Day and every holiday and celebration, visit www.CelebrateGreen.net

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Top picks for Valentine's Day

1. Fair Trade Heart Basket www.ecoexpress.com

2. Organic hemp boxers for him www.rawganique.com

3. Valentine's Day themed beeswax candles www.BigDipperWaxWorks.com  

For more ideas for Valentine's Day and every holiday and celebration, visit www.CelebrateGreen.net

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Long lead time?
Here are some ideas suitable for eco-friendly weddings

1. Choose invitations, place cards and thank-you notes from 100% recycled or treefree alternatives.

2. Seek out eco-friendly venues and assign someone the task of follow through with eco-activities like recycling.

3. Whether for the wedding itself, or events before and after, avoid using disposable paper goods such as napkins, table cloths and tableware unless they can be composted.

4. For favors, choose consumables or zero-waste items such as beeswax or soy candles, live seedlings or seed favors, or make a donation to a worthy cause in the name of your guests.

5. Rings, attire and accessories are available in an array of sustainable choices. But consider making old new again (and instilling some extra meaning in your day) by giving heirloom rings, dressing the bride and her attendants in vintage gowns, and using accessories that have been handed down from loved ones. (Lynn used fabric from her wedding gown to create custom accessories for Corey's wedding.)

6. Disposables of any kind are bad news for the Earth and cameras are no exception. Instead of purchasing an individual disposable camera for each guest, consider renting from www.camerarenter.com. Guests' photos will be uploaded to your own online album. From there, you can download and share the memories.

For more ideas on green weddings, email [email protected] or call 425-793-3590.