weddings with impact

Perhaps you have been to a wedding that made a donation to a charity in lue of gifts.  I always loved that idea.  I got an email about a nifty organization that reaches out to public schools as the beneficiaries of such a donations....and being the daughter, and wife, of public school educators I thought this idea was outstanding and clearly had to share!

First, some background: Founded in 2000 by a public school teacher in the Bronx, DonorsChoose.org is an online charity connecting public school classrooms in need with donors who can help. To date, DonorsChoose.org has delivered over $85 million in materials to over 5 million students and was recently named one of Fast Company's “50 Most Innovative Companies in the World”.

Here’s how it works: teachers create classroom projects aimed at enhancing their students’ learning on DonorsChoose.org. Requests range from pencils for a poetry writing unit, to violins for a school recital, to microscope slides for a biology class. Upon vetting by our staff, projects are listed on the site for individuals to browse and support, with a donation of any size. Once a project is fully funded, we ship the materials directly to the classroom, and donors receive pictures of the students using the materials and thank you notes from the classroom.

To get involved, couples simply create a DonorsChoose.org Giving Page, which can be customized with text, a photograph, and the classroom projects they would like to support. Each Giving Page has a unique URL, which can be shared with friends and family, much like a traditional wedding registry. To see the many couples who have already helped more than 15,000 students through their celebrations, visit their Wedding Leaderboard.

hip green deals is BACK!

I bought these EXACT EarthLust stainless steal water bottles from HipGreenDeals last spring for around $9 bucks a piece for bridal shower gifts - and THAT was a screaming deal from their retail value of around $25!  TODAY they are only $3.15.  OMG.

So excited!!!  My fave deal-a-day website is back for the holiday season and boy have they slashed their prices!  That's right my friends, be sure to bookmark HipGreenDeals - an eco-friendly Earth loving shop that sells one rad item everyday for CRAZY AFFORDABLE prices!!  They will be selling their merchandise at 80 - 90% off retail!!  WHAT?!?  Clearly...this is the best thing ever, and a super rad way to stock up on holiday gifts!

Doie Lounge

Obviously life has been full speed ahead for me these past couple years.  Medical school was hard, and well, residency is hard.  I come home most days and just need to relax.  I pretty much throw my work clothes off IMMEDIATELY upon entering my home and proceed to live in my comfiest ensembles.

Fortunately, once the heaters in our building went on, our apt is toasty roasty...no need for bulky sweats.  I tend to live in my new silky robe from Doie Lounge (plus no tight waistband around my preggo belly!!  score!)

The robes from Doie Lounge are handmade in the USA (love this!) - from eco-friendly fabrics (bamboo jersey and 100% silk trim - love this too!) - in pretty and chic designs.  These would be a great gift for your bridesmaids (or a great gift for the bride FROM bridesmaids!)   They run a deal on their site for gift-giving too!

 a bridal party wearing the robes!!

I'm obsessed with wearing mine around the house...it's silky and soft and makes me feel like I'm literally wrapped up in luxury.  Little moments of luxury are such a nice way to end the day.

what I did with my bridal mags

here

I have to admit, I haven't even looked at a glossy bridal magazine in the last 10 months... but I get free wedding magazines ALL THE TIME.  I attended a bridal convention two February's ago with a friend of mine and ever since then I've been on some sort of a mailing list.  I never paid for them either... it was a freebie that just kept on coming...rather bizarre.  Needless to say, I have a shit ton of these bad boys...and seriously...they are so worthless with their 95% advertisements and stories about "What to pack for you Hawaiian honeymoon!" stories.  Anyway...

I took them to Bookman's, the raddest used bookstore EVER!  Wedding mags are at a premium there, and they pay top dollar.  I made 30 bucks in store credit!!!!   What did I buy?  A bunch of hardcover classic beauties.  (Just what I need before a big cross country move, I know I know, but they are so lovely!!!)

earthblooms

"Flower seeds and soil are embedded inside the heart, butterfly or flower shaped favor,

just add water, no planting or digging required. 

Perfect for wedding favors, bridal showers, or garden parties." 

via NatureFavors

The perfect weather we're having makes me want to be outside all day...to plant flowers..to be surrounded by fragrant blooms.  That's why I'm in love with these new earthblooms from NatureFavors.  We already ordered our "gifts" for the guests at our wedding...but I'm lovin' on this idea.  Not only could they double as cute place holders at the tables, but I love the idea of giving each guest their own garden.  I think this would even be fun for shower gifts or presents for teachers at school. 

I want to grow things.  Do you have a garden??

Happy Easter friends.

pinecone garland

Directions via Twig & Thistle

Nothing beats decorating with Mother Nature...for free (minus the expenses for ribbon and such). Plus, this is rather simple...and very lovely.

If I had more "gusto" I would probably consider making this for the aisle decoration...to spruce up the simple folding chairs on the deck. But I know that I'm not adding any more projects to the list. And I actually only have a couple "projects" on the list anyway.

I've run into that point where I can appreciate pretty and whimsical diy details...but am in no way swayed to create them for our shin-dig. I think that's called, "growing."

What You’ll Need:
Pine Cones
Ribbon
Screw Hooks
Hole Punch
Scissors

Instructions:
1. Begin by measuring your mantel or space that you’d like to hang your garland and cut your ribbon. Remember to leave extra for hanging. Once you’ve determined the length, space your pine cones out as you like on a flat surface. The pine cones I used were fairly large so I kept about 4 inches between each one. On the back of the ribbon discreetly mark where each pine cone will go, then punch a hole with a small craft punch. I used an 1/8″ round circle punch like this one.

2. Once you know how many pine cones you’ll need, screw in one screw hook into the top of each pine cone. This takes a little practice and you may need a little elbow grease but once you get the hang of it it goes pretty quickly.

3. Poke each hook through the hole you’ve made in the ribbon and hang! Easy as pie and something that will last for seasons to come!

beth cyr - ring for haiti auction

Some people have really beautiful souls.

Like Beth Cyr...who is auctioning off one of her dazzling handmade rings to benefit Haiti.

Go bid. (you know you want it...and you want to keep helping Haiti...double whammy of rad.)

but you better hurry...it is an auction after all!

garter up

While browsing Green Dream Weddings, I stumbled upon this fun find: garters made out of ribbons that are made from recycled plastic bottles. I just love stuff like that. These pretty garters are Julianne Smith originals.

Though I think garters are kinda cute, and these are pretty and have just the right amount of frilly fun without being tacky ridiculous. However...I can't wrap my mind around the idea of wanting to do this tradition at my wedding. I hate *HATE* when the groom searches under the wedding gown...it's just terribly awkward...even for me to watch...so we will clearly not participate in that lil festivity (if you are into it - more power to ya...just not my scene.) My Guy loves this tradition. As in, he really wants to do this. Really. Poor guy.

Are you gonna garter?

glorious green giftwrap

I love finding clever ideas. They really make my day. Like these fabric reusable gift wraps from Chewing the Cud. I am always on the lookout for creative wrapping mediums (you should see the gift paper/gift bags/ ribbon organizer in my closet...it's fairly ridiculous). But this one really takes the cake - with no paper mess - gotta love living green. And they are so prettttty!

Etsy shop - PersimmianAndPine

Etsy shop, myFuroshiki, includes details instruction with how to wrap 'em beautifully.

GreenWillow - what about darling little fabric gift pouches? Cute!

Red Kettle Co - different sized fabric gift bags in fun colors...and sizes!

Or rock what this blogger did, of How to Survive Suburban Life, and wrap gifts in old silk scarves! I swear I see dazzling old scarves at the Goodwill for like 25 cents - I'll start buying those beauties now...I have a purpose!

diy: leafy accents

Freaking too rad for words. Totally genius. Totally simple. Totally eco-friendly. Another wildly wonderful Once Wed idea. See the site for DIY step-by-step instructions.

I want to do this. I want to punch our initials into everything.

nature favors

This is the best idea I've ever seen! It's another incredibly cleaver Etsy found item, from the shop Nature Favors. These birdseed ornaments are hand created out of organic materials and are wonderfully eco friendly - they feed the birds!

They come in a few different shapes: hearts, wreaths, doves, and stars. The doves would be absolutely lovely and perfect for our wedding favors. You know, I even love those hearts...and I am not a fan of hearts.

I love this. Like, really love this.

a table full of flickering flames

Hello beautiful table. I love you. I really do.

Mason jars are back on. (via here.)

WIN 125 INVITATIONS or SAVE THE DATES! ENTER HERE!

eco-friendly blossoms

Got a glimpse of these pretty eco-friendly blossoms by Michele Brand over at iDiY. What a GREAT idea! And they look so dreamy in those long strands. I like it...so inventive and creative. A great idea to share on Earth Day.

They are made out of the bottoms of plastic beverage containers.
She must have had one hell-of-an exacto knife as cutting through plastic is tricky!

folk toppers

Dove Pair - Middleburg (this one is my faaaaaaaavorite)

I may appear to be obsessed with cake toppers (this may be the case this week) but lately I'm just so entertained by them. It makes me chuckle because My Guy and I haven't even decided if we will be having a cake where toppers are even possible/necessary! Perhaps it's just easier to consume my free time with seemingly silly little details while my life is topsy turvy with this medical externship I'm in right now. Regardless, I found a new etsy shop that I love. Middleburg. It's modern folk art. And the designs are divine. AND they are created using 100% recycled newsprint. Rock my world Middleburg.

The Wedding Birds - Middleburg

Blue Birds - Middleburg

PS: I thought these were Easter festive, so Happy Easter! (this is me killing two birds with one stone....hummm...)

ConvergenceDesign

Douglass Fir

So I don't know if these fit into a bridal blog - but I found them so lovely and so beautiful that I wanted to pass them along. They are a utilitarian way to incorporate nature into your everyday space via trivets, serving pieces, magnets, wall hangings, tile decor etc. In real life, these are spectacular.

I attended a fine arts crafts show in downtown Seattle yesterday afternoon with my aunt and uncle. We were all struck with the beauty of these tiles hand created by a local artist, (and I was excited to hear they have an etsy shop, Convergence Design). I think they would make great wedding gifts. Gifts to the bridal party, or to your parents, or a wedding gift to yourself! (They are perhaps a little pricey to give as gifts to everyone in attendance...but maybe not depending on your budget).

You could select a plant that is abundant in the mountainous area of your event...and always have a little bit of that greenery in your life. Check out their website, and their etsy shop.

Silver Maple

Western Hemlock

Staghorn Sumac

Sycamore

plant a forest

At my farmer's market, "the succulent guy" sells individual plants for $2/piece. photo from here

I think this idea is totally cool - and clearly totally green. It's a tried and true wedding gift for guests - and it rocks. Give potted plants! Tree seedlings! Succulents! Flowers! Herbs! Seeds!

photo via here

This is truly the gift that keeps on giving. (well, as long as your friends and family have somewhat of a green thumb!) I love the picture above with the different types of herbs in the weathered pots...soooooooooooooooo pretty.

tree seedlings wrapped in burlap can be purchased as low as $2.99/piece

This is awesome. From here.


These seed packets are SO PRETTY! Found here.

good clean guest gifts

All photos via strawberry hedgehog's blog

My friend Tracy, over at strawberry hedgehog: a handmade vegan soap shop, has a slew of bangerang gift ideas. When she found out I was engaged, she set the wheels rolling around in my brain about treats for our guests! I love her ideas.

My dream scenario is for My Guy and me to provide her and her hubby with one hell of a fantastic dinner. In return, they teach us some tricks of the soap making trade. She has some GREAT ideas, like using local scents like pine and juniper, or to incorporate some of the scents of the flowers we use in the decor/bouquet. I do love the idea of handmaking something unique, and useable, as our gift.


All of the products over at strawberry hedgehog are vegan, environmentally friendly, handmade, and o-so-luxurious. They would be a fantastic addition to the bridemaid's gift baskets too.


Did I mention they have a soap of the month club? Or that they've created Soap For Hope, a selection of yummy soaps where 50% of all sales go to cancer charities? strawberry hedgehog is heavenly...with what they make, how the make it, and how they give back.

recycled thank yous

I love paper. And I love cards. I have a collection of every fantastically designed greeting, birthday, and holiday card I've received over the past 5 or so years. Excessive? I think not. I frame them - and switch 'em out - and hang 'em - and get inspired by them. I could never imagine throwing away such gems.

That's how I feel about these little paper pretties. Great 'thank you' designs for a nature girl...and they are printed on recycled paper. Double wammy.

All via APunkinCardCompany:

Paisley Bird Greeting

What's the Word Bird

Green Flowers

clear as glass

I love the randomness of these jars, and their cool vintage feel. Not to mention these glorious unassuming flowers!! Found at A Practical Wedding.

Photo found at Classic Bride of Sadie Olive's flikr pics.

Via A Practical Wedding

Found at Snippet & Ink

Photo via Sweet Pea Garden found at A Green Iowa Wedding.

I'm addicted to the color yellow, so I'm clearly obsessed with these. Found these at Jesse and Deanna's Wedding Blog.