Be sure to get a receipt or proof of your donation for tax purposes.
Brianne
You want to give back to the community and the environment this season but just don’t know where to start. With all the scams out there and a Salvation Army Santa on every corner, it’s hard to know where your money is going and if it’s going to the right things. This list of top five charities has been given an A+ or A by API and has been approved to meet the follow requirements: they generally spend 75% or more of their budgets on programs, spend $25 or less to raise $100 in public support, do not hold excessive assets in reserve, and receive “open-book” status for disclosure of basic financial information and documents to AIP. So this season you can open your wallet without the stress.
Conservation Fund: From Northeast to Southwest, they work with their partners, to conserve land, train leaders, and invest in conservation at home.
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation: Their mission is to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitats.
Trust for Public Land: They are a national, nonprofit, land conservation organization that conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, community gardens, historic sites, rural lands, and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come.
Earth Island Institute: They are a non-profit, public interest, membership organization that supports people who are creating solutions to protect our shared planet.
Greenpeace Fund: Their mission is to expose global environmental problems, ensure that the Earth is able to nurture life in all its diversity and promote solutions for future generations.
Written by Greenista Girl Brianne
Photo by Lighter Footstep
Giving to charities not only helps the environment in this case but also helps your wallet … you get a tax deduction.
Even after Christmas, use old wrapping paper, bows, ribbons, and anything reusable to decorate for your fabulous New Year’s Eve party.
Brianne
Deck the halls this Christmas with bells of holly … but use real holly! Christmas is the best time of the year to decorate and it’s also one of the easiest times to decorate with recycled materials or DIY décor.
Make bows out of old ribbon, old formal dresses, or even that shiny shirt from the ‘90s you still have. Don’t want to cut up that old vintage top? No worries, check the remnant tables at fabric shops, including those that make formal outfits or wedding dresses – you’d be surprised at the unique pieces of fabric left over. An old top can also have a new life as a Christmas stocking, as can old cushion covers. Add buttons, scraps of material or ribbon, etc, to make a design.
Another one of the easiest decorations is pinecones, pick them up from the closest tree and dip them in melted soy candle wax or you can even use your children’s old beeswax crayons, just melt them in the oven. Cones can also be painted by hand using gold burnish or splatter them with white paint to create a frosted appearance.
Christmas doesn’t always have to put a dent in your stash of greens. Keep an eye out around the house for easy DIY décor materials. The possibilities are endless!
Written by Greenista Girl Brianne
Photos by Christmas Geek
On average, each household will chuck out an extra five bags of waste over Christmas, adding up to 736,571 tons of waste.
Buy any full size products and get a free winter lip rescue balm!
Greenista Girl Shivani
Moms get stressed and around the holidays it’s even more stressful. Treat the mama in your life (or treat yourself) to Mambino Organics Mandarin Crème Organic Body Wash ($16). This soap-free body wash lathers up gently without SLS but instead naturally with saponified oils of olive and coconut. Unlike other fragrant soaps, this won’t leave you dry and itchy this winter … your skin will instead feel revitalized, brighter, and cleaner with no residue. It’s packed with red mandarin and chamomile essential oils as well as aloe vera and shea butter, and is made without SLS, parabens, or other synthetic preservatives, dyes, or additives.
Written by Greenista Girl Shivani
Photo by Mambino Organics
SLS is a chemical agent that gives soap that lather effect. Since it’s chemical-based it’s drying to the skin and can cause irritation. It can also coat and clog the pores and can be one of the causes of hair loss.
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