How many parents have been puzzled (if not somewhat annoyed) at seeing their progeny tear into a gift with absolute delight at the ripping of paper, only to remove the gift and after a cursory look and try, spend the next few hours playing with the box.

And how many of us (if not all) aren’t wondering how in the bloody ‘el our children have amassed this mountain of toys, when we have struggled to keep it all under control with a no-gift and/or green toy policy? My eldest is only 2 and I am already packing toys away that I will be placing on a Green Mama “Craigs List” type site (more on that early next year).

Well. Tired of tripping over, stepping on and otherwise running into the seemingly fertile toys in my house , I recently wondered if I mayn’t just wrap up a few toys that my son already owns and regift them to him for Christmas. Not because I’m cheap – but because my toe hurts from running into the seemingly endless recycled, European, eco, non-toxic painted shapes of wood that are strewn about my house. (Well, it used to be my house.)

Box Play to the rescue!

Box Play provides mama with a selection of wonderful stickers that will turn any box, from an egg or milk carton to cereal or shoe box (among others) into a fun toy! Even into a bowling set (above)!

These recycled eco stickers are affordable and brilliant in that they allow you to turn boxes into toys for a second life, before hitting the recycling bin.

Why shouldn’t the ever present toilet roll be turned into a rocket ship?

Box Play stickers are the perfect thing to pack when traveling for the holidays to turn cartons into toys when you arrive – sparing you from having to pack too many toys – using space that you need for those parkas and jumpers.

I love this company, and hope that they develop even more stickers. No one ever bruised a toe on an egg carton.

9 days ’til Santa!

My son just celebrated his second birthday on an unseasonably  co-opertative November day. It was, quite honestly (except for the food), exactly what I dreamed. (Yes, anxious mums actually dream about these things.)

Let me preface the rest of this post by saying that I have never looked entirely forward to “baby” birthday parties. In truth, I have always tried to escape them when possible and only attempted one after seeing a few fellow mums pull off what I had thought was impossible: a birthday party that felt “grown-up” enough for adult, non-mum friends and yet dulcet enough for toddlers – looking like a proper birthday party in photos years hence. Their formula I copied shamelessly: Grownup venue + Balloons/bit of Whimsy + Booze = success.

I’ll begin with my fave part – and the thing the guests raved about: Balloons! I usually hate balloons – but these, from Geronimo Balloons – are divine and the children loved them. They also dressed up the grotto at the darling B&B where I had the fete – and made the whole even quite magical.

The balloons are 3 feet across and come with custom designed “tails”. I’ve kept the tails from mine for future use or to lend. They made a lovely rustling sound in the wind.

As the theme was “vintage travel”, I created little “suitcases” filled with “passports”, travel books, stickers and the like. The suitcases will (hopefully) be kept – making them greener than something more disposable. I covered the suitcases in stickers to give them a vintage feel.

As we are close to Christmas, I also placed little paint-them-yourself airplanes around a globe that could be used as Christmas ornaments - a favor that I hoped might remind the little ones of Alden years from now….

The airplanes were tied with a ribbon that had the birthday “logo” on it.  At My Own Labels I created water bottle stickers, napkins, coasters and other tags featuring the logo for visual cohesion (and because my background is in adverting.)  I used the same image on the invitation stamps. (The invites were little wooden airplanes – but they became mangled en route – so I don’t recommend them.)

The logo itself…

Another little favor, again, one I intended to be kept, were little pilot hats…(very PanAm, methinks)…

Other mums, far more experienced than I, told me to have “activities” at the fete. I struggled to come up with toddler friendly “travel” themed activities – and settled on providing non-toxic markers and cardboard airships to color. For good measure, I also provided a cardboard castle. I know, so not within the theme…unless…people DO travel to see things like castles! (S-t-r-e-t-c-h.)

My son approving of the castle…

Recycled from last year and something I intend to use until my son decides it’s too silly or “done” – a banner that I ordered last year on Etsy.

Okay. Now we get to the bit that went horribly wrong. So. I ordered booze. Which went well (as it is wont to).

And I had a “candy jar” set up – though I filled the jars with organic fruit…

But the food. Well. I used a caterer that I wasn’t familiar with and…well…no one liked the food. Only the hummus seemed to have not earned me a “what the hell kinda food is this?!” Right. It was all vegan and organic – but…it failed miserably. I won’t mention the caterers name – as we all have off days – but there you are. Lesson: KNOW the caterers or do it yourself.

The food was served on Eco partyware and served with eco bamboo utensils – but – as you can see – not many plates were used. Ahem.

The “best” bit wasn’t green, but culinary redemption was had with the cake and cupcakes from Chicago’s favourite Sweet Mandy B’s. My poor son wasn’t allowed any – but who’s going to tell ‘im? I have fotos to prove there WAS a cake – and that’s the important thing. Will your friends make fun of you and grooooan when you won’t let junior partake of sugar? Yes. For a good half hour. But eventually the Veuve Cliquot kicks in….

I get a sugar rush just LOOKING at these…

Having a green party is easy and can look as elegant and non-ridiculous as a grown up cocktail party. You can minimize the waste and disposability of favors by making them special and something the children will actually keep, serving things are easy to find in recycled forms, the food can be organic, vegan AND yummy (I swear they aren’t mutually exclusive) and the activities or games should be plastic-less. And honestly – you MUST try Geronimo Balloons. They are biodegradable and too, too gorgeous.

My boy’s will both have green affairs again next year – but this time —- better food.

Happy Birthday, baby. x

SOURCES:

Balloons: Geronimo Balloons (Latex and biodegradable)

Venue: Villa D’Citta (Lincoln Park. Available for parties and a wonderful B&B. Mention The Green Stork for a 10% discount on rooms!)

Suitcases and Stickers: Paper Source

Wooden planes: Oriental Trading Company

Logo: Shutterstock

Labels, tags, other “branded” elements: My Own Labels 

Stamps: Zazzle

Cardboard toys and castle: Calafant

Eco party ware: Party City 

When I was little the favor bags were always filled with jacks (do kids play with those anymore?), wooden and elastic toys that your thumb caused to higgle jiggle, smalls bouncing balls, small puzzles and plastic slinky’s.  More often than not a piece of cake was also involved. I, however, was never allowed to take that sweet treat. (Humph.)

Things are far more sophisticated now – I know of one gravity defying mum that sent EACH child home with their own American Girl Doll!  And at one boy’s party each boy became the proud owner of a remote controlled plane. Egads.

We green mums are a humble tribe – and now, forgoing the cheap Made In China plastic and sure-to-have-lead in them small tokens that, have betimes resorted to seed packets or little trees favors. Trust me. Though a beautiful gesture, it is not quite appreciated by the young ones. Mores the pity.

Meggie Moos to the rescue!

With everything from boxes, to reusable bags and wooden toys to arty things – a mum can be green AND give a bag that will surprise and delight!

The sweet bags can be used for all sorts of treasures, well apres the fete.

And the little green gifts will last longer than the cake high your wee ones will torment you with for hours.

Affordable and green, Meggie Moos gift bags will not embarrass your child and, hopefully, will inspire other mums to have more verdant thoughts for the next fete that they will host.

Happy Birthday!

No, these are not images of beautiful rare gems from the Smithsonian.

These are natural soaps. Yup. SOAP!

Lovely shower (geddit?!) gifts are so hard to find – but these beauties are sure to delight your guests – (though there is a possibility that your guests may find them too beautiful to be used.)

Available in museum shops and at Urban Outfitters for the unprincely sum of $8.

(Now, if only they came on a rope….)

If you are having a lovely Fall shower, what could be more “Fall’ish”, than apples?  These darling apples are actually sticky notes – and will be the apple of your guests eyes as they try and take more than one home as a favour.

And if you are having twins? The “Perfect Pair” of course!

These will be the most practical and un-twee favours your gifts have ever stuffed into their bags.

(Except, of course, for bottles of Bolly – like I had.  Hiccup.)

Happy Autumn!

This past weekend, as I mentioned previously, my darling “baby” sister and my beautiful best friend, threw me an intimate baby tea at The Drake, here in Chicago (I have a profound love of old hotels. You can have your “W”s – give me a Waldorf any day). 

My tea was “green”, in that no paper or plastic decorations were used (streeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetchhhhhh) – and that the favors were champers (in glass – totally recyclable), and a Limoges elephant (porcelain – lasts forever), in a velvet bag (also re-usable).  So there.

In addition to old hotels, I have, since a young girl, always had a profound love of weddings (I have actually planned several, and hope to be a wedding planner in my next life).  In fact, I bought my first wedding magazine when I was in high school, have bought hundreds ever since and have, just this morning, waddled my 8 month pregos body up to the counter to get the latest InStyle Weddings.  (The look on the fellows face as I bought it was priceless.)

In this months Instyle Weddings, are several lovely ideas that would work for a baby tea or shower – so I thought that I’d share. (Needless to say, all images, except of my tea, are copyrighted by someone, somewhere.  But I doubt that you thought I was a professional photog.  All images are linked to thier owners site. Please feel free to slather my images all over your own blog.  I’d be flattered.)

As you can see, my baby bottles of champers (from my friends family wine & spirits store:  The House of Glunz), had a lovely blue bow on them.  However, if you want to further personalize your mini bottles (a great favour for all who are NOT in a family way), consider using Marry Monograms or my fave label maker that makes a label for every ol’ thing.

Another lovely favour?  Bulbs, seeds or plants in sweet little boxes.

Wrapped with personalized ribbon - they are too delightful.

And for those that actually prefer tea to champers?  These beautifully packaged sugars are a gorgeous favour.

(These are actually quite easy to make.  Use pretty glass containers, and spice your own sugar with a vanilla pod, spices and a cinnamon stick.  After a week of “marinating” – the sugar will be scented and special.)

And my fave favour idea that made buying yet another wedding magazine worth it? These adorable flowers in a can, that conveniently come in blue and pink cans.  Yup.  Flip, pull and water – and voila!  Flowers! 

If you love weddings, and are years past yours, you now have a new excuse to buy wedding magazines and turn every dreamy page…party planning.

(Remember to take your old mags to your doctors office, where I imagine you will be spending a lot of time. Your fellow moms will thank you as they are weary of worn “Highlights” and “More” magazines.)

Pass the cucumber sandwiches.

Soon my niece is having a very “green” very pink, ballet birthday party, complete with a real, live ballerina to give the girls lessons, eco corn made plates, cups and utensils, a vegan cake and an all organic menu. It’s a new day….

If you cringe as silly Made in China cartoon paper plates are dumped into the rubbish bin one, by wasteful one, as sugar filled children show you exactly how quickly a small persons  glycemic index can spike before the cranky crash as the whining hits a feverish crescendo worthy of Callas -

this is for you -

I must give credit where it is due: my sister actually found this green party supply store called, enigmatically, Green Party Supplies. It honestly has all the basics and extras that you will need for a child or adult fete.

Another great party supply place is Paper Mart.  I have been going to them for favour bags for at least a decade.  For my wedding I used their burlap bags for coffee beans (Cuban and Panamanian coffee, with a small bottle of Irish whiskey, was our favour). And just this past weekend, I used their velvet bags for another favour.  Though the velvet bags aren’t technically “green” – they are something that any girl would keep forever for jewelry. 

Lucky Crow also makes lovely, organic (more for girl’s, methinks), favor bags:

Though I don’t like to see children drink from straws – I know that there are few birthday parties that don’t have those toxic plastic garbage dump fillers by the hand full -

These straws, available from Plum Party, are 100% biodegradable and non-toxic, as they are made of corn. Yup. Corn.

And for my two British readers – how lucky are you to be able to order pre-filled eco-favour bags from Little Cherry?

Not a party without balloons? Get Jr. biodegradable ones, and explain how the other kinds can hurt wildlife.  (Seriously, I lived in Florida, and saw first hand how insidious a seemingly benign birthday balloon can be. Poor birds and turtles.)

And what sort of gifts to place in the “green” favor bags? I’m a massive fan of art supplies.  They are perfect for boy’s and girl’s, and they aren’t tossed aside, usually in pieces, like cheap, plastic Made in China things.  A great source for green art supplies is Stubby Pencil Studio.  I LOVE their soy crayon rocks, and can’t think of a theme they couldn’t be worked into.

Green birthday parties are the perfect opportunity to teach your child about the less toxic and more responsible life you have chosen to live as a family.  And honestly, aren’t you making all these changes so that his every birthday is in a world that is better for him, not worse? 

I almost forgot the most important thing! Candles!  Soy birthday candles can be had for a mere $2.95.

Make a wish!