Green Living Web Highlights: Eco-friendly Gift Giving, Compost Advice, Heal Emotions Naturally, Boho Chic Magazine
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.
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Are you looking for eco-friendly jobs or the latest green news on travel, architecture, cars, fashion and beauty? Tree Hugger is a comprehensive green site that can help you get informed on the environmental issues you care about. You can also look into the lives of other environmentalists by watching some video eco-tips. Tree Hugger’s readers have sent in videos showing their green habits and green hacks (renovations). You can learn how to make recycled paper, how to teach children to compost and various other ways to be more sustainable.
Take the Drive Smarter Challenge by entering basic information about your car’s make, model and year. By following the six money saving tips that are presented, you can potentially save hundreds of dollars per year. For example, did you know that you could save up to 20 gallons of gasoline annually by keeping your tires properly inflated? Also, if you’re an aggressive driver, taming your jackrabbit starts at green lights can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent. After you challenge yourself, challenge a friend and receive coupons to AutoZone. Go go 
National Geographic has launched a Green Guide, which provides various tips on how to be environmentally conscious. Whether you are building a new home or renovating a current one, there are buying guides to help you make more eco-friendly decisions about certain materials. Or if you have children going back to school, there is a feature on how to keep the classroom pollution free. Maybe you already know ways to be green, so test your knowledge by completing a quiz on saving gas or seasonal foods. If you are not sure how to deal with plastic and household cleaners, ask a question or see if it has already been answered in the Just Ask section of the guide. Go to 
The phrase “green air conditioning” is one of the most ironic statements I have ever made. However, one cannot expect to live comfortably during the summer months without it. Now that we are in August, one of the hottest summer months, I though I would post some tips on how to save the planet while still cranking up the AC. Try a setting 10 degrees cooler than the day’s high temperature. You’ll save 3 percent on energy costs for every degree raised over 72 degrees. Or raise the temperature setting even more and turn on a fan. And be sure to draw the blinds and curtains during the sunniest and warmest times of day.
I believe that picnics can be had at any time during the year. Indoors or out. Annie B. Bond of Care2.com offers ten alternatives to using plastic for your picnic. Most of her suggestions lean toward using stainless steel, but whatever material you decide to use, make sure it is reusable. Her article can be found at 
Eco fashion used to be limited to a few brands. Dressing Green has become easier with an array of designers offering better and better selection particularly for the fashion conscience. Several online retailers have stepped into the Greenlight offering one of a kind trendy fashion, accessories and jewelry. Some even donate a portion of their proceeds to further Green causes. Here are some of the best…
Investing in your future? Saving for your retirement? There are diverse ways to fulfill your dreams and get your money working for you. Investing in companies that produce green resources or have green practices is one way to secure your future by getting in on the green. 
I love a great party and I always start the recycling during the event. Putting out more recycling bins than trash cans helps guests get into the act and leaves less mess to clean up later. That’s me. dvGreen, is the brainchild of Danielle Venokur, former Television Producer and witness to many Hollywood wrap parties. dvGreen, is a green event planning service. Some of their practices include donating leftovers, recycling & composting, and using sustainable decor elements. They plan weddings, bat mitvahs, birthdays and other special events. They also offer consultations if you are doing it yourself. Find out more 
I’m a huge fan of borrowing DVDs from the library. I’ve found so many films that never made it to the Big Screen. The Earth Cinema Circle is a Green Living DVD club. They deliver 4-5 films to members bimonthly. The selections include animated shorts and documentaries created by Independent Filmmakers. They have trailers on their site of the current DVDs being shipped, to make to make your decision easy. Topics include wildlife, sustainable architecture, solar power and more Earth Cinema Circle also supports their carbon neutrality through donations to the Go Zero Program. And hey all of their packaging is 100% recycled. Learn more at 
Recycled Laptop Bags are an instant way to feel good and protect your goods. Materials range from PET (recycled soda bottles) to Mountain Tarps. Frietag has been making bags from recycled tarps, seat belts, and air bags since 1993. I love that while every bag may be cut from a shared cloth, each piece is unique. See 
