Posts Tagged ‘gifts’

Father’s Day Gifts for Fun and Environmentally-Friendly Dads

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

Image by bryce_edwards
Father’s Day is coming up this Sunday. Hopefully you’re prepared and have something great planned for Dad. If not, I wanted to share a few Father’s Day ideas for the fun and environmentally-friendly Dad!

Now, many of the ideas I mentioned for Mother’s Day could work for Father’s Day too. But rather than just leaving it at that, let me give you a few ideas that are tailored to those extra special dads who help turn life into an adventure.

Digital scrapbook1. Memory in pictures: Most people probably have some pretty good memories of times spent with their dad. One way to preserve those memories is to put them in a scrapbook or on a DVD.

That way you can share those special memories with your dad and let him know what events/activities/moments really meant something to you.

Image by meglet127

2. Completing projects for/with dad: If your dad is one of the many dads who always seem to have one or two or more projects going, maybe Father’s Day is a good time to help him finish one of those projects.

It’s up to you and your dad of course, as some dads just like to relax and take it easy. If that’s the case, maybe there are projects YOU can do for your dad. Is there stuff around the house he hasn’t been able to complete? Is there something he needs to do, but hasn’t had the time to do it?

Image by NetDiva

Well, I guess you could consider it similar to the “coupons” kids sometimes give their parents…you could give your dad a few “I’ll take care of it” coupons. That way dad can relax on Father’s Day and you can help him get some work done at the same time.

Doesn’t cost you a fortune yet it still shows your dad that you care. (And save even more by printing on recycled paper or recycling materials to hand-make your coupons.)

3. Spend some one-on-one time with dad: It’s kind of like Derek, aka Natural Papa, says in his post about getting some one on one time with your kids. He recommends asking them for a date now and again so you can spend some personal time with each of them. Well, isn’t Father’s Day the perfect day to ask your dad out for a date?

Find out what he would like to do. Then spend the day with your dad. You can go for a walk, take a bike ride together, go hiking, play ball in the park, go swimming, surfing or sailing. Whatever it is that you and your dad would like to do, just get outside and spend some time together. It’s a great chance to catch up too.

Father's Day surfingImage by Josta Photo

4. Sporting event: If your dad is a big sports fan, consider taking in a sporting event. Sporting events are some of the most popular Father’s Day activities. But rather than having to deal with traffic and other Father’s Day attendees that are also going to an event with their dads, set up a special sporting event for dad at home.

Make his favorite food or even try out a new recipe. Maybe get him some organic wine or beer. Then set up a “sports day” just for you and dad. What could be better for the sports-loving dad?!

Image by kimberlykv

5. Vintage gifts: You may feel that you need to buy your dad something new. Well, before you do that, try looking for something vintage instead. Rather than buying a new tool from your local hardware store or a shirt/tie from a brand name department store, try going a little more classic.

Check out local second-hand stores or consignment stores. You and your dad may be pleasantly surprised with what you find. Here are a few vintage gift ideas from The Art of Manliness.

LoveEarthAlways also has a few green gift ideas that your dad may like. (Their stainless steel water bottle, for example, is great for taking on hikes or even just to the park…trust me I know.)

Image by kwanie

But when it all comes down to it, please remember that Father’s Day doesn’t need to be all about consumerism. It’s a day to let your dad know how much you truly appreciate him and love him. So when it comes to deciding on the perfect Father’s Day gift for that fun and environmentally-friendly dad of yours, please keep that in mind. What great ideas do you have for your dad this Father’s Day?

6 Eco-Friendly Ideas for Valentine’s Day

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

Image by Muffet (via Flickr)

Image by Muffet (via Flickr)

Valentine’s Day is coming up in just under two weeks, but if you are anything like me, you haven’t quite had a chance to finalize your plans. Should you give flowers? Candy? Exchange cards? What about green or eco-friendly Valentine’s gifts? Well, there are many different ideas to choose from and many ways you could go, but let me give you a few of my favorite eco-friendly ideas for Valentine’s Day:

1) If you are going to go the traditional route e.g. chocolates or flowers, go for the organic variety. I highly recommend Equal Exchange when it comes to organic chocolate. They have chocolate bars (which are currently on sale until Feb 14th), organic dried berries and nuts, organic hot cocoa, organic chocolate and coffee gift bags, etc. You can even get free-shipping (UPS ground in the contingent U.S. only) if you enter the code: chocolatelove. Go for the chocolate/coffee gift bag….a great eco-tasty choice!

When it comes to flowers, California Organic Flowers is a nice choice as they have a wide variety of organic flowers, with many great options under $50. If you want to make your own living bouquet, take a look at this video from California Organic Flowers as they provide some helpful tips on doing your own arrangements.

2) Get away for the weekend. If you are one of those people who likes to get away for Valentine’s Day weekend, how about a trip to the new Aria™ Resort & Casino at the CityCenter in Las Vegas? The Aria is LEED® Gold Certified and features smoke-free walkways, floor to ceiling airflow (to help remove smoke from their casino), energy-efficient lighting, bicycle valets and much, much more. While you are there, don’t forget to relax and indulge in the Aria’s spa services including a heated-stone massage or unwind and breathe in the air from their infused salt room.

If you are looking for a tropical rainforest type get-away, one of the ones on the top of my to-do list is the Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa in Australia. This eco-lodge is located in a 30-acre rainforest valley in Daintree National Park. Their guest rooms are ecologically-friendly treehouses and since they only have 15 of them, you’ll want to book early.

3) If you can’t take time away or would rather stay closer to home, you can do a day trip to a local eco-friendly or green spa. Spa Index has a list of eco-friendly spas you can choose from. (Hint: many of the spas on their list offer discounts for first-time customers.)

If a spa day at home is more your cup of tea, check out these at home spa tips and recipes. You can easily turn your Valentine’s Day into a spa day, without even leaving the comfort of home!

4) If you decide to stay in, make a meal for you and your significant other. What’s nice about making a meal at home is that you control what goes in your meal. You can include fresh or locally-grown fruits/vegetables, pick out a great organic or vegan wine and design your meal so it’s just right for you.

For example, you could start off with a tomato bisque soup,  make a simple grilled BLT panini or a Butternut Squash Enchilada for your main dish and end off with some chocolate-dipped strawberries. But, if you are hoping for romantic evening, you might want to add one or more of these aphrodisiacs into your meal.

5) For those of you with kids, a creative eco-friendly idea for Valentine’s Day is to get outdoors. It doesn’t cost much, it’s a nice way to get some fresh air and a wonderful way to get the kids (and family) to fall in love with nature again. If weather permits, you could pack a picnic lunch and enjoy a meal outdoors. If not, then maybe just a walk…look at the trees, do some bird-watching, maybe take some pictures or pick up some beautiful fallen leaves. Whatever you choose to do, reconnecting with nature is a wonderful thing to do on Valentine’s Day!

6) Make your own Valentine’s Day cards/gifts. Rather than going out and spending between $1.00-$5.00 on a Valentine’s Day card, just make one. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t have something lying around that they can use to make a Valentine’s Day card. You can take that junk mail you got or an old magazine and cut it up to make a heart-shaped valentine. You can even use the fallen leaves you and your kids collected to make some creative leaf rubbings or press your leaves/flowers onto a votive cup to make a beautiful candle holder.

Well, those are some of my favorite eco-friendly ideas. What are your favorite eco-friendly ideas for Valentine’s Day? If you have a favorite gift, idea or site you think other readers should be aware of, please let me know. Enjoy your eco-friendly Valentine’s Day!