by Marina Hanes

Eco-friendly Gift Giving

Even though the holidays are behind us, you still have to think about the gift giving events that are coming up. Mother’s Day is in May, and you might start receiving invitations to bridal and baby showers, birthdays, graduations, etc. What are you going to use to wrap all of those presents? According to the Sierra Club, if every family in the U.S. wrapped at least three gifts in reused materials, 45,000 football fields could be covered with the paper that was saved. Fabric Wrapper creates eco-friendly gift bags, wrapping paper and other products from reusable fabric material. Plus, 1% from every purchase is donated to environmental organizations. See fabricwrapper.com.

Compost Advice

Planning on growing crops this year? Well, if you’re going to be planting crops such as carrots, cauliflower and cabbage, you need to work on preparing the soil so it’s nutrient rich by mid July. Mulching your garden area can prevent weeds, but you also need a fertilizer to bring back the nutrients. Composting is an organic way to prepare your soil, and all you need is a container, food scraps, worms and a drill. TheCompostGuy has simple to follow videos showing beginners how to create an effective compost bin. Go to youtube.com.

Heal Emotions Naturally

Are your moods easily affected by the weather? If you experience the ‘winter blues,’ it’s possible that you could be suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Or maybe you have chaos in your life causing your emotions to fluctuate. Instead of going straight to prescription drugs like Valium, which are only finding their way into our water supply, try a more natural stress reliever like flower essences. Bach Rescue Remedy is a multi-purpose solution that can help you find an emotional balance. There are also alcohol-free variations of this product that can be used on children and pets. See bachflower.com.

Boho Chic

Sometimes wearing natural fibers and eclectic pieces can give you a bad first impression. So if you want to look boho chic instead of like a mismatched style victim, brush up on your fashions by reading Boho Magazine. Simple tips such as layering colorful and gem-encrusted brooches on a jean jacket can breathe new life into your wardrobe. Brooches can be found at thrift shops and garage sales. Also, look at the magazine’s runway and street photographs for ideas on how you can turn vintage clothing, jewelry and handbags into classic and functional pieces. Go to bohomag.com.