Alright, if you are like us, you are looking around your home realizing that you got some gifts, but you got way more packaging. The instinct is to just stuff everything into a big box and throw it out. But, I beg you.  DO NOT THROW OUT THOSE BUBBLE MAILERS!

I just read that Amazon will produce enough plastic waste this Christmas to wrap around the world 500 times. It makes me nauseous to think about, but as we unwrapped (and rewrapped) all the gifts our family sent and we bought, I believe it. What I find even more depressing is how many Etsy sellers sent their stuff in plastic too! Blerg! 

It makes me wonder- why doesn't Amazon have a system to gather and reuse all this packaging? Why haven't they switched to all plant-based and biodegradable packaging? And why aren't there stricter rules about this? When a company creates a mess of that magnitude, it seems to me you should be held accountable to pick it up and make some changes. This is the bigger goal, and it's important. Until then, you can still try to make the problem smaller by rethinking what you do with all that Christmas waste. 

So, we can't solve this problem, but we can save those bubble mailers.

 Start a box of bubble mailers. If you mail stuff, reuse them. If you have a buy nothing, offer them there (someone has always taken ours). If worse comes to worse, look up the etsy stores in your area (you can use the location search to find them) and offer them to them! I also learned some cities have services that will collect them (like Ridwell in Seattle, which I love). 

Have more questions about how to minimize your waste during the holidays? This year, more than ever, it is important to tend to all the shipping materials and packaging for the sake of our environment.  Here are some quick solutions:

🎄Returns- be sure gifts will be recirculated. The bigger the company, the more likely they just throw it out (I heard a total horror story about Michael's). Amazon just tosses things, so you may be better off donating/regifting those items if you don't want them in a landfill.

🎄Plastic wrap- start a bag for all your plastic film! Think bread bags and the wrap on toys. Most grocery stores have a recycle bin for it at their entrance. This is a great habit start no matter the time of year. 

🎄Cardboard- Recycle, use it for all sorts of crafts and toys, or offer it on buy nothing! Somebody may be able to use it. Someone is always moving in our neighborhood, so boxes are always getting passed around. Also, if packaging is half plastic, be sure to pull all the plastic out before you recycle it. 

🎄 Wrapping paper- Look before you recycle! Sadly, a lot of it is not recyclable (see: anything shiny or sparkly), and wish-cycling can do a lot more harm then good. Also, everyone stop buying crappy wrapping paper that can't be recycled. 

🎄Bows, cards, gift bags- We all know you save that business. Only fools trash gift bags.

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Be sure to check your local recycling rules- it's different everywhere! Think of it as a new fun Boxing Day tradition to trash as few boxes as possible. Also, if you are overwhelmed with this stuff this year, remember every Christmas is a chance to buy more secondhand and locally- no packaging needed! 

Merry Christmas and happy trash sorting!

Easter is my absolute favorite holiday. I love the themes of rebirth, of starting again, and spring. As a Christian, the holiday is central to my faith and I love the season of Lent as well. As a mom, I love the activities that come with spring too.

As a steward of the Earth, I feel a little less excited about it every year. It seems that it has become another extreme consumer holiday. Most posts you can find about Easter baskets are about candy-free options, which basically lead to suggestions of all sorts of toys and other junk to fill baskets with. At the grocery store, I see big baskets filled with toys and wrapped in plastic all over the place. I even see the same meme every year where parents used giant umbrellas filled with toys instead of a basket.

What does all of this consumerism have to do with rebirth? With spring? With Jesus? What the heck is all of this?

Every holiday becoming a major consumer holiday only leads to more excessive plastic waste, more shipping over long distances (those toys are not being made ethically or locally), and more destructive consuming-obsessed attitudes from our kids.

Do we really want them to think that celebrating just means receiving? No matter what the cost to the planet or other people? If you are a Christian, how do you balance that kind of attitude with the actual teaching of Jesus. If you are celebrating the spring, the reawakening of our planet, why would you want to destroy it?

You can still celebrate Easter with your family without being so destructive to the planet. There are so many options out there, so you really can avoid any plastic waste or overconsumer nonsense. You can even pull it off without candy if that is your deal!

This post uses Amazon affiliate links, but I highly recommend you buy as little from Amazon as possible. Shopping from secondhand and locally-ow

So let's get to it.

For the Basket

Every year those vinyl, plasticky baskets show up in stores. Skip them. Instead, your best bet is either to use a basket that you already own OR go to your local secondhand stores! You will be amazed at just how many options they have and you can save all sorts of money. You can always spray paint them (just don't do it the night before), so look for form not color.

I bought our baskets from Goodwill for about a dollar each, and they are all beautiful. Buying things used creates less waste and keeps perfectly good items out of landfills.

After that, the key is to reuse. Our kids will always have the same basket for their baskets. At some point this will probably give up the plot for them, but I think it is worth it in the end.

For the Grass

Oh plastic Easter grass. When you think about it, you are basically the plastic bags of holidays. No one needs you. If we all only make one change to our approach to Easter this year, let's STOP buying this environmental blight disguised as pastel sweetness. Lucky for all of us, lots of paper options exist.

My best advice? Make it yourself! Start with your recycled paper file or save up construction paper scraps. I am IN LOVE with this post on how to make your own from Compost and Cava, but it doesn't even have to be that complicated. Roll/fold the paper into tubes and then cut thin strands. That's it.

You could also think about reusable fabric options- I have seen suggestions for yarn or ribbon scraps. For something cleaner (and perfect for really little ones), you could also use playscarves in the bottom of the basket. You could reuse them every year and use them as toys!

Another great option? Use last year's grass! From here on, but your Easter grass in a bag so you can reuse it. Unless something got on it, most grass can last quite a few years.

You have a couple of options if you want to buy as well:

Eco-Grass- Crinkle Cut, Recycled, Made in the USA- 3 1.25 oz bags- 12.99 (and prime if you procrastinate). I don't love the plastic bag, but worst case scenario it looks like it can be reused to hold the grass between Easters.

Crinkle-Cut Kraft Paper - There are lots of options for this out there. I would check how it is made and the packaging before choosing, but I think this would also look pretty earthy and sophisticated.

For Eco-Friendly Basket Treats

My biggest advice is to keep your baskets small and simple as possible. Make the focus finding the basket vs. receiving a bunch of gifts. Honestly, we mostly do candy, some seeds, and some oranges. I would rather have a little bit of consumable gifts than to go crazy filling our house with more stuff.

 I do not give any toys or anything like that, because I don't think it fits with the holiday and it is deeply important to me that my kids do not conflate celebrating and receiving. But I do have a few ideas in that vein, in case that fits your style or circumstance better.

Everybody has their own style, and you can be eco-friendly and do what works for you. No one should take all of this advice, but hopefully an idea or two will click with you. Here is my list of ideas.

Things to Eat

Local Candy - The best options are local- unwrapped or wrapped in tin foil. We still order our Easter candy from my hometown chocolate-makers. Avoid all Nestle and big brand plastic terribleness. Here's our list of local and ethical candy.

Bulk Bin Candy- Check bulk bins at your grocery and candy stores before you try anything else. You avoid packaging if you can come with your own bags, support local businesses, and get some really different stuff.

Yogurt-Covered Pretzels- Look like candy, but a little healthier and you can find them in most bulk bins.

Chocolate-Covered Raisins or Nuts- More gems from the bulk section. Dried fruit could work well too!

Oranges- You can fill a bunch of space by adding some oranges or other fruit. To make it more festive, you can draw on them with sharpies.

Baked Goods- Make cookies or muffins or carrot cake. You can control the sugar content, and your kids still get a treat in their basket.

Trail Mix- Another simple one you can make, use reusable bags to package, and fill baskets with! Our kids think it is a treat as long as there are like 3 M and M's in the mix.

Easter Eggs

Eggs- If you aren't vegan, the lowest impact egg you can get is just regular, local eggs! Try to find them as locally as possible to minimize your negative impact. To do even more good, you can dye them naturally (here is a good lesson on how to do it, but you can find many more on Pinterest). Eco art supplies has an egg-dying kit as well.  If no one actually likes eating the eggs, you can cut down on waste more by blowing the egg yolks out and using the same eggs for multiple years.

Wood Eggs- If you want to avoid plastic, but do something reusable, wood eggs might be a great option! You can even learn together about religious and cultural traditions where they paint the eggs with elaborate (and gorgeous) designs. You can find wood eggs that will open, but unless you have something in mind, solid wood may work fine too.

Plastic Eggs- The best bet for plastic eggs is to find them secondhand. Sometimes just asking your friends and neighbors (or trying Buy Nothing or thrift stores) can land you enough eggs to make things work. This is just the kind of plastic that gets thrown away WAY more often than it should, so you can keep something out of landfills by offering to reuse them.

If you can't track enough down that way, check out Eco-Eggs. They are made in the US of bioplastic, and they aren't perfect, but at least they are plant-based so they will break down eventually.

Things for Spring

Seeds- My friend made adorable paper packets for them last year that were totally inspiring and our kids loved them. You could go crazy with decorated packets, but even simple ones can be really sweet. Any mix of things you can grow together will be a huge success.

Bubbles- My trick to bubbles is to steal the little bottles of them at weddings. I leave them in a bag in my art supplies and pull them out as needed. My best other suggestion is to save your empties and just make refill bubbles.

Gardening Tools- Shovels, gloves, and a watering can might make a really sweet gift that encourages your little one to get involved with the growing process. We haven't had great luck finding these tools that are made locally, but you might have good luck finding some of the things (the watering can for sure) in secondhand shops.

Jump Rope- Green Toys has a sweet and simple one.

Things for Creating

Crayons- We love melting our crayon nubbins into fun new shapes for our kids to use. If you don't have enough, you could ask neighbors to save their broken crayons for you. We bought silicon molds (ours are lego and letters, but you could choose anything), melt them at 150 degrees for 15 minutes, and have brand new funky crayons that our kids love.

If this isn't in the cards for you this year, you could also try these crayons from eco-kids or these recycled crayons in the shape of stars.

Little Notebooks- Little books, like these ones from Field Notes or Decomposition Books can be super fun for little kids who are ready to get their thoughts or pictures on paper.

Playdough- You can make your own with things in your house (this Martha Stewart recipe seems to be the best place to start), and homemade playdough smells delicious.

Secondhand Toys or Books- Like I said, this is outside of my comfort zone, because I really think the holiday doesn't require gift giving. But if you do want to go that route, check your local thrift shops! You can find Hot Wheels, puzzles, and all sorts of small toy filler there. This is how we fill our stockings for a tiny amount of money, and we are saving toys from landfills.

If you want something fresh, I recommend Green Toys, Maple Landmark, or Bears for Humanity. But seriously, check secondhand! Nothing new can come close to the same positive impact on the planet.



What is your favorite eco-friendly Easter basket filler? What's your favorite Easter tradition?

from GFTWoodworks

It's almost time to get decorating for Christmas! It can be easy to run to Target to pick up a decoration you need, but we know that easy and cheap for us usually comes at a WAY higher environmental and ethical cost- is it honoring the holiday if the person who made it was mistreated?

Instead of doing that, you can shop on Etsy! You get to give your money to a small business and maker, plus the objects you get are so much more special and original. We treasure the decorations we bought on Etsy, especially our tree topper, which I am pretty sure would also double as an oven mit (but we love that angel).

Now, before we get into this, I have to tell you, the best way to get Christmas decorations is always secondhad. Your local secondhand shops probably have tons of Christmas stuff ready to go, and if you have something in mind, ebay seriously has you covered. For example, they have 5,000 used tree toppers. FIVE THOUSAND. So if you have a dream decoration in mind, don't even look new before you check elsewhere.

That said, Etsy makers have all sorts of amazing takes on this holiday, and it doesn't get much better than supporting these small businesses. If you are looking for a nativity set, check here. I have also written special posts on stockings and advent calendars.

Check out these amazing stores:

Allenbrite

This Etsy store makes all sorts of adorable stockings. I love how colorful and playful they are. They also have a huge selection of different dogs and cats for if you want a stocking for your pets. These are also slightly smaller than the massive ones they sell at most stores, so less to fill.

AnneflowersCrafts

I love pillow covers for any and every holiday, because they pack away so nicely but have lots of impact when they are out. This store has all sorts of sweet and Christmasy designs that would fit lots of styles.

Buitique

I love this store- they have the most beautiful and special handpainted personalized ornaments. It looks like they may already be full for this year, but it might be an idea to try for next year! They also have some simpler ornaments that might be just what you are looking for.

cardboardchristmas

Trying to figure out what you are doing for a Christmas tree? Living in a small space? I absolutely love these trees from cardboardchristmas. They are completely recycled, and you can use them in a small space to make it really special. Those artificial trees have to be used for at least 10 years to make up for their carbon impact (and they still make a lot of plastic waste). This is my dream alternative.

ChaostoArt

This shop takes old quilts and repurposes them as stockings. Such a cool idea, and I love that it recycles materials instead of using new ones.

FantasyFabricDesigns

This store makes all sorts of fabric decor, from wedding runners to table clothes, but their tree skirts (with fluffy balls on the end) are my favorite. They have over a hundred options, so you can find something that fits your style.

GFTWoodworks

This shop sells a bunch of tabletop decorations and ornaments. I love their trees (one of the sets is at the top of this post). Another decoration that could make an excellent gift.

HappyPlywood

Want something special to put in the window or on the mantle? Happy Plywood's Christmas towns are so special. The kind of thing kids will remember as adults. I love that Christmas glow, and this really puts it to use. They also look really pretty in the daytime.

hoopsbyrae

I love the hoop wreaths, and these Christmas ones by hoops by rae look lovely. It just goes to show that you don't have to go over the top to make your space feel warm and welcoming.

JillMakes

I am absolutely obsessed with these patterned and colorful ornaments from JillMakes. Perfect if you have a fun but modern style or if you just love color. She also sells super cute diy kits that might be a perfect Christmas day craft.

OakandAnvilWorks

This shop uses recycled steel and turns them into totally original ornaments and nativity sets. I especially like the nativity sets and a gorgeous Santa sled.

resplendid

This shop is mostly rag rugs (that I also love), but they do sell some repurposed wood ornaments. Lovely and simple for a rustic style.

RootToVine

These adorable snowmen are made of repurposed book pages. So cute, and perfect for the book-lover you love. Check this shop out- they have little Christmas trees too!

SzkloGlass

This may be my favorite thing I found. This shop sells modern, minimalist glass pieces, including this gorgeous nativity set. So different from anything you will find elsewhere, making it feel incredibly precious. Such a cool shop to browse through.

TinWorks

This Etsy shop makes lovely tree toppers out of tin and copper. They look like they could fit with rustic or vintage or even minimalist/modern styles, and it feels like a family heirloom (maybe eventually it will be). Just a really special object.

WildRidgeDesign

This Etsy shop makes beautiful and natural wreaths. Check out the whole store- there are so many options.





What is your favorite Etsy shop for Christmas shopping?

Easter is coming! This is my favorite holiday of the year, so I could not be more excited. I love the meaning of it, I love Spring, and I really love a good egg hunt.

Though I love the holiday itself, this is a season that breaks my heart a little more each year. It has become as commodified and commercialized as everything else, and I really hate it. I am a Christian, this is my most deeply felt and beloved holiday, and I really don't get how the resurrection of Jesus is supposed to help people sell Paw Patrol goods or a kiddie pool. But people buy it.

With a broader cultural lens, I can see that Easter's roots in pagan traditions of Spring beginning can open the door to more secular celebrations of rebirth and spring. Even if that is the tradition you are really connecting with, does it really justify a purchasing spree?

Has the Easter bunny just become another Santa Claus? Schlepping all the stuff your kids want? How is this poor rabbit supposed carry all this junk? All this stuff is making us miserable, steals our money and sanity (not to mention time), and it isn't even good for our kids. What are we doing?

This is especially tragic when you think about how much damage our current way of living is causing the Earth and our bodies. If you believe that God made these things, why would you want to pollute them with wasteful plastic junk? Even if you don't, it's a tough thing to be ok with. Our planet is drowning in plastic, and we are failing at being stewards of everything around us. We have bought into the sick capitalist lie that what we want is more important than anything else. If our kids want toys, we oblige them, who cares if the worker who made it was mistreated or the plastic it is packaged in destroys the environment.

So I have a bold proposition for you. Stop treating Easter as a shopping holiday.

It doesn't have to be austere or boring, but you can celebrate Easter without spending tons of money or giving a bunch of unnecessary gifts. Really. You can have the best celebration you have ever had without one cartoon character getting involved.

In other words, I am giving you a free pass to skip all this stuff. You aren't required to buy up the Easter aisle. Your kid does not need a stuffed bunny or Paw Patrol brand Easter eggs or any of that junk. That's not what they will remember anyway.

Be free! Save your money and do some things you actually enjoy instead.

 Here are some ideas of traditions to try if you aren't sure where to start.

Switch Up the Easter Basket

You don't have to do an Easter basket at all, but if you are into it (I know I am) it can still be simple and focused on the experience. The Easter Basket is now associated with all sorts of things- beach toys! Characters! 6 tons of candy! Keeping it simple can be really satisfying, save all sorts of time, and you will be surprised how psyched your kids still are.

If you want a bunch of ideas on ways to simplify your Easter baskets, check out this post. I have tons of them.

We fill our (thrifted) Easter baskets with a few things:

- Candy. We try to only buy things wrapped in foil, not plastic. Bulk sections in grocery stores can be particularly helpful in doing this.
- Fruit. A few mandarin oranges are perfect filler, and if you are feeling ambitious, you can decorate it.
- Seeds. Why not go plant some things!? Springy and fun. We will talk more about this later.
- Paper Grass. Skip the plastic. Shred some paper you already have! It's so easy! Fold paper (used construction or printer) like an accordion and snip.

It's up to you how much to involve your kids in the making of the baskets (it is fun to make the grass with them), but no matter what, you can do a basket hunt with them! You can do it with clues, like a treasure hunt. You can make little bunny prints for them to chase.

Dying Eggs

Dying eggs is a classic holiday tradition (though it may not appeal if you are a vegan family). Last year, we got the eggs from the chickens in my mom's backyard, so it couldn't have been more local. And those chickens could not be more free-range- they are the tyrant kings and queens of her house.

It doesn't take a lot to make this a fun activity- just some mugs and some eggs to color! When I was a kid, we did those box kits. Now, I can see that is a racket. Food coloring and white vinegar works exactly as well (and you can use white crayons to add designs if you want to get fancy).

Even better? Experiment with using natural food coloring from things like beets and blueberries. You can read all about how to do it on this blog from Country Living. It makes for a fun experiment, and you cut way down on waste. This is my goal for this year.

from A Little Pinch of Perfect

Get Creative

There are so many Raster crafts out there, and some of them use materials you certainly have at home. I especially love egg decorating crafts for kids who don't or can't eat eggs. Rather than buying a craft kit, you can use what you have at home.

My favorite are these salt dough ornaments from The Best Ideas for Kids; you can make the salt dough yourself, and everyone could decorate one each year to start a collection.

I am also obsessed with these doily eggs from A Little Pinch of Perfect. Don't these just look gorgeous? It's just markers and craft paper! And lots of us have random doilies sitting about (I know I have a handful, and I don't even know where they came from). If you want something simpler, these crayon and watercolor eggs from Rhythms of Play look like as easy collaboration if you have really little kids.

I also think these tin foil eggs from I Heart Crafty Things, because you may have some tin foil around already. They really look pretty cool!

Also, this is totally random, but these No Sew Sock Bunnies from Home and Gardening Ideas are the cutest thing I have ever seen. I am trying to guess how many more years we have to go before my kids can do this one!

Hunt for Eggs

Hunting for eggs is so much fun, and you can do twists on it for basically any age. I grew up hunting for empty plastic eggs full of candy, but last year my toddler just hunted for the actual eggs we had colored, and it was so sweet. You can color the eggs, hunt for them, and eat them, so there is nearly no waste involved.

Neighborhood egg hunts can be really fun too, depending on your child's feelings about crowds. They also tend to be over in about 4 minutes, so not great if you aren't timely. The eggs in these hunts are usually reused year after year.

Lastly, if you want to do a plastic egg hunt (maybe because you are vegan), you still shouldn't buy the eggs new. They have them at consignment stores sometimes, you can definitely ask your neighbors for them on Buy Nothing, or you can even borrow them from others. If you really need to buy some, get these plant-based eggs that can be reused and then composted.

Start Growing

Easter is a perfect time to appreciate things that grow! You can start some flowers or herbs in pots, or you can plant some flowers right into the ground (depending on the climate you are working with). I love planting with my kids. A few bucks in seeds can bring you joy (and food and pollinator support etc) for months. You could also ask around for starters from friends and neighbors in your Buy Nothing Group.

from Crafty Morning

Make Easter Treats

It doesn't matter what you make, but making treats for Easter can be a great tradition to spend time together. Your own family may already have food traditions for this holiday, share making them with your kiddos! And if not, set your own traditions!

My favorite are these rice krispy chicks from Crafty Morning, which are so cute and a little bit silly. I like her nests as well. Another simple option is to make Easter egg sugar cookies to decorate like these ones from Oh So Busy Mum.

I have also read a lot about doing Easter bread, and you could make your own loaves. I also had no idea, but Polish tradition has a lamb cake, where you make a cake shaped like a lamb (how sweet... and also weird?). There are so many choices out there, and I find if I turn music on and let them do the pouring and mixing, my kids are so happy with time baking together.

Go Fly a Kite

Such a spring activity, and so much fun! I am terrible at kites, and tend to get whacked in the face a lot, but I still have a great time. If you don't have a kite, maybe ask around to neighbors before buying one. Someone in your Buy Nothing group would probably be happy to lend you theirs for a day or two. J

Make a Bird Feeder

If you have older kids, making a bird feeder or bird house could be a fun way to welcome the spring (and the feathered friends that come with it). Simple cookie cutter ones are my favorite, but this post also has some really cool ideas if you want to try something more complicated!

Just Go Outside

Now that the air is getting warmer and there are so many things coming alive, an Easter Walk sounds like the perfect tradition. Just being outside can feel spiritual and reflective in the Spring, and that time together really counters the busy-ness that can take over our lives and holidays. Have a picnic. Do more egg hunts. Plant flowers. Play Hide and Seek.

It doesn't really matter what you do, just leave the stuff behind and spend some time together. Amazing things will happen.

Participate in Holy Week

Even if you are a light attender, this is a great week to plug back into your church. Often churches have fun events going on after church on Easter Sunday as well, so maybe plan your Easter dinner a little later.

Easter can be a perfect moment to refocus on your family's spiritual connections, and step away from our addiction to consumption. We blame all sorts of other things, but our constant purchases pull us further away from our stated values daily, without us even noticing. We mistreat the poor by ignoring the people who make our stuff in slave labor and sweatshops, we mistreat animals by continuing to buy meat and eggs farmed in horrific conditions, and we mistreat the Earth by flooding it with our pointless plastic garbage. We go directly against the Word of God by how we spend our money.

This is no example to set for our kids. But give yourself grace, that mainstream force is hard to push against, and all of these truths are so hard to face.

You can give your kids a gift by helping them break this cycle early, and to stop connecting celebrating and shopping.

If you want to celebrate Jesus this Easter, you can start by breaking up with this endless cycle of shopping and desire. Simplest way to do this? Just be with other Christians and don't buy anything. Use your church library to find cool Lent or Easter books (my favorite is the Jesus Storybook Bible). Do a cool craft like these resurrection gardens or cross paintings or palm leaf crosses, but do it together with your church!

We can't control how the capitalist machine commodifies religious holidays, but we can choose to not participate. If they don't make all that much money off of it, they will stop doing it.


Ok, that got a bit heavy at the end, but this is a holiday about joy! What are the traditions your family shares at this time of year?

People love talking about this generation. We are killing Applebees and fabric softener.

This is the time of year where offices all over the world throw a holiday party and (in some cases) a gift exchange. They are usually a white elephant. They are also usually terrible.

In most cases, the gifts looks about the same; some alcohol, a few kitchen or office items, and some weird nonsense that is supposed to be funny.

I hate ironic gifts. I used to consume things (bad movies, bad stuff,etc) with humor and irony. Now I see that if you eat crap ironically, you are still eating crap. So stop making purchases that you don't think are useful or are just for a momentary laugh. You can figure out another way to make the joke.

Instead, this can be an opportunity to do a little bit of good without becoming an office pariah.

We know that we all are consuming too much stuff, and that this overconsumption is a key factor in Climate Change.

Let's put it this way. Every choice and every purchase we make is either a step toward the world we want (one that is sustainable, not total destruction, etc) or away from it. This may seem like an inconsequential decision, but it is just another place where you can make a good step. If writing this blog has taught me anything, it is that even the tiniest positive decision can make positive ripples. You never know who you are inspiring! So here are our basic guidelines for green gifting (even when you don't know who you are buying for):

1. Buy Less Stuff- Stick to your limit and don't worry about being judged. One great gift is better than one terrible one. Equally important, if you don't have to buy an object, just don't- experience gifts and gift cards are more fun and less waste.

2. Buy Used- Want to buy decorations? How about kitchen stuff? Start at a secondhand shop. You can save tons of money and keep things out of landfills.

3. Buy Local/ Buy Ethical/ Buy Recycled- If you do buy brand new, think about companies that still manufacture in the US or who use fair trade labor. Respect your own work by respecting others' as well, and only buy from companies who treat their employees fairly. Most of the companies who still take care of their workers are more likely to still care about the environment as well. Skip fresh plastic- you might as well be handing over a chunk of asbestos, and no one wants to be the asbestos person.

This blog uses Etsy and Amazon links. That said, you do more good for the environment by shopping local to you, so check those locally-owned shops you have always meant to visit. 

So, let's come up with the most popular office gift you will ever give.

1. Movie Tickets

So simple, and who doesn't want to go to a movie now and again? Throw in enough for a popcorn, and that is a pretty good gift. Bonus points if you pick a unique theater near you.

2. Unsponges and a Brush

Ok, I know I promised fun, and nothing is as fun as doing dishes! Maybe not, but these inifinitely reusable sponges from Marley's Monsters and dish brushes from Redecker  are super practical, and your coworker can reuse the heck out of them. Plus, they are a little bit cuter with the designs and face and such.

from WAAMIndustries

3. A New Lunch Sack

Some of us bring our lunch with us to work, and it can be a great way to help the environment (or kick off that New Year diet). There are tons of great ones out there, but my favorite are these from WAAM Industries.

4. A Plant or Succulent

We know that plants make you feel happier and breathe better. It can even increase your productivity! Give a co-worker the gift of a more positive space by gifting a potted plant (or a succulent if you think a regular plant is too much to handle).

from Rada Cutlery

5. A Knife and Sharpener

This year, the Boy is DEFINITELY NOT gifting a Rada Cutlery knife and sharpener to his coworkers. Which I think shows a lot of faith in their decency. If he was doing that, but he definitely isn't. Because I know the good employees on his team are avid readers of his wife's blog. Don't get excited, friends, you are definitely not getting a knife.

But really, a good American-made knife could be a real treat, especially for younger people who are just getting their home going.

from Field Notes

6. Little Notebooks

Getting office supplies may seem pointless, but a little notebook to write ideas or notes in can be a life-changer. The uses are basically endless, and as there are cooler options than you think. Decomposition Books are the perfect notebook, made from recycled paper and soy ink in the US. I love them, and they fit perfectly in my bag. If you need something with almost excessive cool, Field Notes has notebook sets as well. They are extremely cool, and they are still made in the US.

7. Restaurant Gift Card

People have to eat. Bonus points if it is a little bit funny or out of the ordinary. In general, picking something local does way more good than suppporting a big chain.

from Amazon

8. A Lodge Cast Iron Pan

My husband took a 10" cast iron pan as his white elephant last year, and it was a huge hit! Everyone fought over it! Lodge pans are an American treasure- they are still made here and are genuinely awesome. Cult-following levels.

9. A Lasagna

Or a Casserole, or a few freezer meals worth of soup. If you can cook (especially if you can REALLY cook) help somebody out who doesn't have the time or talent. It may get you funny looks the first year. By three years in, everyone will fight for it.

10. Reusable Straws and Cutlery

Depending on your workplace culture, there may be a lot of take out involved. That's a lot of throwaway containers and cutlery. The RepEat bamboo takeout set is pretty genius. To-Go Ware makes a similar set too! It's a simple gift, but it could save a lot of waste if used by the right person. 

11. Reusable Coffee Cups

Any reusable cup is excellent, because whoever picks the gift has probably been meaning to bring a reusable cup more often. There are ones that are a little better for the environment, and I would always caution you away from plastic, but you really can't go wrong here! I love this glass one from Joco which is a really pretty keep cup. I am not an expert at this, but here are a few Etsy cups I thought seemed really special. 

12. Uber Gift Cards

Yes, this is totally a thing. If you work with a younger crowd (or a crowd that tends to stay out), this can be the perfect way to gift them a safe ride home. I know our babysitter sometimes takes an Uber, so I think we might do this for her too.

13. A Donation on their Behalf

This may seem crazy, but what gift would you rather have than 3 new trees making oxygen or a welcome basket given to a refugee family? Our money can do wonderful things when we re-distribute it away from stuff. I bet someone else in the room will love that gift, because they will get to feel like they helped someone this time of year (and they don't have to take something pointless home).

14. Cookies

No one can get that mad if they end up with a giant pile of cookies. That is a good day.




You don't have to go crazy and buy an iPod to rock this gift! Go out on a limb and be pleasantly surprised!



Want more gift ideas? We have thousands! Check out the Green and Easy Gifts Page for sustainable gift ideas for everyone on your list. If you want more holiday ideas, check out the Green Family page.