It's Party Time!

Today Joe celebrated his 37th birthday and part of his day-o-fun included seeing the wonderful new flick WALL-E. It is entertaining and sends a great message about the importance of keeping the planet in tip-top shape. Go see it!

For everyone else with an excuse to party, I will deliver some tips on how to have a green-friendly soiree. Not only is it better for the earth, it's usually cheaper too!

First, steer clear of disposable dishes, cutlery, and napkins if you can handle it (Bandannas make a great cloth napkin that won't break the bank). But epicurious.com also recommends the following:

Whole Foods' 365 store brand has durable plates and bowls that look like sturdy paper ones but are actually made from renewable and biodegradable sugar cane.
For a bit of color, look for Recycline's plates and bowls in bright, bold colors like purple and lime green; they are made entirely of recycled plastic (from old yogurt cups) and are sturdy enough to be used several times.
Stock up on Cereplast forks, spoons, and knives, which are made from a biodegradable bio-plastic consisting of 80 percent corn-based starch and 20 percent green fillers. If you compost, you can toss these utensils right into the bin and they'll break down in about three months.
Forget plastic straws. Greenhome sells some made from PLA, a corn-based bio-resin. They look and feel like plastic ones but are completely biodegradable.
Also look for plates, chopsticks, and other utensils made from bamboo, a fast-growing renewable and biodegradable resource.

Also remember that aluminum foil can be tossed into the recycling bin with your other items (as long as it isn't caked with old food!). Purchase glass and aluminum containers if possible, due to their ease of recycleability. Of course when picking out food and beverage items, shop local. Wines are another item that have become more popular in organic and biodynamic varieties. Your local farmers' market or health food store will most likely carry these items or can tell you where to find them.

And when cleaning up...
Make recycling baskets visible and clearly marked by type of material so that guests can toss their goods during the party. Use environmentally friendly cleaning products such as Method, or even make your own with these easy "recipes".

And for all of you attending a party:
~re-use gift bags from past gifts....or my personal favorite wine bag!
~wrap gifts in the sunday funnies, it's

interactive giftwrap (and kids love it!)

Let's Par-tay!
GB