Kelly's Healthy Home

Tis’ the Season to be wasteful fa la la…

I hope I’m not alone in feeling a little anxiety with all the expectations, money spent, wasted food and wasted gifts during the holiday months. On top of that, both of my daughters have their birthdays in November! There are tons of laughs and memories in between, and I try to focus on that rather than the negative results from the celebrations. The way my family and I ensure to reduce our consumption and waste are through intentional gift giving.

I try to manage my gift giving similarly to my every day life; look for secondhand, sustainable and eco-friendly necessities- with a splash of fun!

I love secondhand for my kids. It may not work for all ages or people, but for now I’m embracing it. From facebook marketplace to thrift stores- this is where I look to get gifts first. I scored a sweet 1990’s Barbie camper so far! It’s fun to explore and also support other local families by purchasing their unused items.

Then, we look into sustainable options;

I love experiences rather than gifts. Some ideas; tickets to a concert, going to a fun restaurant, or a class such as cooking or painting. This creates more memories and you get to tailor it to your loved ones interests and hobbies too.

Find sustainable or up-cycled materials like glass, bamboo and jewelry. Etsy is a great shop for this! Or maybe you have a local business that upcycles materials such as Remark Glass.

Lastly, if you want to gift new items, support local and companies that align with your ethics. There are so many wonderful companies out there that have eco-friendly missions, you just may need to research a little more. From clothing, toys and beyond, there’s definitely options for everyone. Head to https://www.greenamerica.org/about-us to find some companies if you need some help getting started.

Lastly, let’s talk about wrapping those gifts. Ribbons, bows and wrapping paper are all a huge waste. Personally, I love reusable bags. I spend a fraction of the time wrapping gifts and we keep the bags for years. There are so many fun ones now and kids still have fun untying the drawstring bows to open.

Happy Holidays!