It's Halloween Only Greener....

There are some great ideas on the web for a green Halloween this year!

My favorite is to have a pre-Halloween costume swap party!

This is a great idea if your kid's costume has actually survived the year (mine never has, but I still LOVE the concept) or you could have a Halloween costume making party- have all the crafty parents and kids bring their own supplies and have alot of paint and cardboard handy.

Those store bought Halloween costumes and masks are made from PVC; also known as vinyl, which is a plastic; is not recyclable and PVC releases dioxins into the air.

Costume manufacturers used to use natural fibers like cotton, linen and silk, but switched to synthetics because they take longer to ignite, but when they do ignite synthetic fibers melt and can cause severe burns! So no matter how desperate you get cross those babies off your shopping list!

Green Halloween's tip sheet includes:

1. Plan ahead to avoid last-minute shopping which often limits your choices

(this is a key life lesson that I never seem to learn- one year I was sewing my daughter's floppy moppy raggedy ann style wig as we were heading out the door with her in a crying panic that we were going to miss Halloween)

2. When it comes to costumes and decorations — reuse, borrow, trade, purchase used or make it yourself

3. Treat bags can be anything- match the bag to the costume using something you already own - such as purses, flower pots (tip from me - cover the hole), cloth sacks, backpacks and lunchboxes.


4. Choose healthier treats and fun treasures

(the site suggests giving things such as acorns and feathers- not sure this would go over with the little "monsters" we get at our door though- if you are going to try this one I would suggest the feathers - since they have the least potential as a lethal weapon that could be used against you)

6. If you’re having a Halloween party- avoid disposables! This goes for ANY party!

7. Walk from house to house instead of driving

(if you live that far away from other people and I wish I did sometimes then drive to town and then walk)

8. Compost pumpkins and any other food, including leftover candy.

(or send the leftover candy to me for disposal)

9. Collect the candy wrappers and turn them into all kinds of cool stuff like this adorable candy wrapper bracelet

10. There is still time to get the Unicef boxes and have your kids collect some moula for a good cause.

My daughter has been everything from a Dice (lost from the rearview mirror of a pink cadillac whose owner was fleeing a crazed monster zombie on a deserted highway) to a Robot Girl from Venus (escaped to planet Earth because her parents wanted her to marry a boy zombie robot who pulled her hair and stepped on her toes).

The more interesting you and your child make the background story (and the more zombies involved I find) the more they will enjoy making and wearing the costume. This tip comes in handy on October 30th when you are turning a cardboard box into a cellphone and trying to convince your little trick or treater that this is the coolest thing they could ever want to be!

So get cracking Halloween mommys and daddys - only 3 weeks left!

(Awesome Wooly-Worry Green Notebook Monster by Spiderbite)

Styl Mag Blog Shout Out!



The amazingly talented Megan Eckman of StudioMME and a contributing writer to Styl Mag got our locket collaboration a shout out on Styl Mag's gorgeous blog! Check it our here.

Also see Megan's gorgeous illustrations and our jewelry collaborations below!

Styl Mag's new issue is available for pre-order now and features the amazing work of JunkyardDollhouse - a shop I just love!


GIVEAWAY byMarianneS Stunning Bracelet CLOSED


WINNER IS GREENWORKS! Check out their amazing Etsy shop from Belfast! Chosen by True Random Number Generator Min:1 Max: 621 Result: 27

ByMarianneS is such a beautiful Etsy shop! Marianne is a self-taught designer and mother of three from Estonia in Northern Europe.

She makes the most unique and stunning crochet pieces. Her work and photography is unmistakable and always visually interesting and totally gorgeous!

Marianne says she is addicted to crochet, felting, stitching, playing with polymer clay and making jewelry- and we're so glad she is!


WHAT YOU GET:

One lucky winner will receive one of Marianne's gorgeous crocheted bracelets!



HOW TO WIN:

Visit byMarianneS and check out her gorgeous shop and leave a comment below letting Marianne know about your favorite item or something you would like to see her carry!

For additional entries:

(5) Twitter this post
(5) Blog about this contest; linking to this post
(5) Follow my blog

Let me know if you have done these things so I can give you additional entries. This contest is open to everyone.

DRAWING:

MIDNIGHT on Sunday, October 11th! Good luck! CLOSED

It's Like We Don't Even Know Each Other ... or let's see how many times I can use the words like and all in the same post


So hubby goes out last night and spends about 3 hours driving from Blockbuster to Blockbuster looking for Apocalypse Now because he just has to see it again.

I'm calling him up- like Dude- where are you??

(for a few seconds I had jealous visions of his ex-girlfriend who had recently moved back to town, but then I remembered seeing her in the Shop N Bag wearing slouch socks and muttering to herself about the price of bagels)

And he's like - I'm at Target - I'm going to buy it- that way we always have it.

(okay...)

So, he comes home awhile later with his movie and a GIGANTIC carpet steamer and I'm all like- WT(bleep), why did you buy a carpet steamer?

And he's all - "It's for you - I know you wanted one".

And I'm all - "It's like you've never even met me".

(I should also state that this is the same man who once ran to the store for shampoo when I was in the shower and we were out and he had been given only the instructions of no Breck - I don't think our local convenience store has restocked its shampoo aisle since 1984 - and he returned with a bottle of Breck conditioner)

So we make an on the spot decision that we need to reconnect with a little just the two of us roadtrip which I will keep you all posted on- plus my car has finally stopped smelling like cool ranch doritos and gas station coffee from the last road trip and I kind of miss it ....

Now we just have to decide if there is still time to head south and pretend it is still summer or just give in and head north and face the cold winds of autumn ...


1. Travel Size Vegan Soap by LongWinterFarm
2. Toasty Textures Fingerless Gloves by TickledPinkKnits
3. Traveler Bag by JennyNDesign
4. Recording Diary by 7321Design
5. Green Car Necklace by Sushipot

ETSY SPECIAL - Get a free pair of matching earrings with any necklace order from either of my shops Uncorked or Polarity by mentioning the words - Time for a Roadtrip (or some such nonsense) in the comments to seller section of your order thru 10/11!

Spooning out the Hump Day Honey

There is a chill in the air here and even little pup Olive may need a sweater soon

(yes, I may become one of those sweater dog mommys - but she will be trucking her own little self through the snow believe me)

so time to see what the blogosphere has to offer up in the way of the new, cool and autumn inspired!

Like the amazing Odd Molly tunics that I am totally in love with, the beautiful modern mosaics of Charis Tsevis, the best way to save money now that savings rates have tanked (isn't his cork nose just too cute), Mischer Traxler's limited fungi shelf at the Berlin Design Festival, Robert Stadler's father's grave, the stunning photography of Illinois photographer Vaeda Baty (and she has a locket), Anthro bird button necklace and of course, Martha always has the best pumpkins.












GIVEAWAY Awesome zJayne T-SHIRT BAG 6 PACK! CLOSED

AND THE WINNER IS TAYLOR B. - Check out her blog - Congrats Taylor and a great big thank you to everyone who entered! Chosen by Random.org - True Random Number Generator Min:1 Max: 503 Result: 76

Jane Pierce is my EcoEtsy buddy and the famous t-shirt to bag recycler who's shop is totally filled with the most amazing eco goodies!

Her upcycled items are featured in the premier issue of Green Craft Magazine on the stands now.

Jane also creates the most beautiful and moving assemblage doll jewelry from vintage pieces as well as the most adorable and well-made recycled t-shirt wristlets that you will just love.

I have a bundle of her t-shirt bags and use them everyday for trips to the post office and grocers- they are super roomy and sturdy and totally upcycled and functional. Jane's answer to "Paper or plastic?" is always - NEITHER, and now yours can be, too!


WHAT YOU GET:

One lucky winner will receive zJayne's T-Shirt Bag 6 Pack!



HOW TO WIN:

Visit zJayne's gorgeous shop and leave a comment below letting Jane know about your favorite item or something you would like to see her carry!

For additional entries:

(5) Twitter this post
(5) Blog about this contest; linking to this post
(5) Follow my blog

Let me know if you have done these things so I can give you additional entries. This contest is open to everyone.

DRAWING:

MIDNIGHT on Sunday, October 4th! Good luck! CLOSED