greenliving
eco-friendly
Baby Showers
10 Steps to Sustainable Style
by Helen coronato
4. Wrap It Up
Congratulations! You or someone you Bring out guests’ competitive spirit by
love is expecting, and friends and fam- challenging them to come up with the 8. Make Something
ily are cooking up a baby shower. These most creative and sustainable gift wrap.
Beautiful
entertaining ideas will make it possible Bows, ribbons and traditional papers
Beautifully mark the occasion by
to celebrate in a green theme that hon- can be traded in for receiving blankets,
creating a one-of-a-kind gift for the
ors the mother-to-be, while cherishing old paper maps or a beautiful new scarf
baby. Ask friends and family to paint
the Earth as a welcoming destination. for mom. Gift toppers could include
their palm and leave a handprint on
pine cones or wooden teething rings.
an oversized plant pot, to be kept in
1. Set the Sustainable Scene
Reward guests for their bright ideas
the nursery. Gather scraps of fabric
Choose a location that’s in line with
with a compact fluorescent light bulb.
and invite attendants to cut out a heart
your intention. An outdoor picnic is a shape, write their name on it and ad-
relaxed way to enjoy a potluck lunch
5. Include the Guests
here it to a pillowcase with fabric glue,
that comes complete with containers Make sure guests understand the inten- for the baby to rest on. Don’t worry
for guests to carry home any leftovers, tion of the afternoon and invite them if the project is perfect, the intention
reducing food waste. An afternoon tea, to be an intimate part of the celebra- already is.
where guests bring their favorite cup tion by bringing along a personalized
and saucer, is a fun way to gather and memento for the new mom. They might
9. Do Everyone a Favor
eliminates the temptation of disposable pass along a favorite book they have
Say farewell with seasonal gifts, like
plasticware. read to their own child or a framed
small pumpkins in the fall or packets
photo of the guest of honor when she
of seeds in the spring. Better than
2. Manage the Menu
was a baby.
any token of appreciation will be
Consider the amount of food needed to the memories that friends and family
satisfy guests, banish excess and make
6. Spread the Word
take home.
the most of seasonal and organic menu Online party invitations have become
ingredients. A hearty vegetarian chili more popular, but
10. Thank-you
and locally baked bread is a satisfying, if you opt for printed invites, use a
Everyone enjoys receiving a thank-you;
simple lunch that everyone can enjoy; decorated 8½ by 11 sheet of post-
make sure yours sticks by mailing a
leftovers freeze easily. Focus on one high- consumer, recycled paper. It’s not
photo magnet to guests. Develop pic-
quality dish and skip bloated buffets. only more economical than packaged
tures of the party, cut and glue a photo
invitations, it has space for all the green
to discarded cardboard and “laminate”
3. Green the Gifts
party details; plus, the rest of the ready-
with packing tape, then attach a craft
Ask guests to bring a frozen meal for
to-print computer paper is available for
magnet to the back. Insert the mag-
the expectant parents to rely upon
future projects.
net into an envelope and write, “You
during those first few weeks of sleep- helped make the day picture perfect,”
less nights, or a gently used “re-gift,”
7. Gather the Tribe
on the inside flap. This personal keep-
to give only-worn-once clothes and Give the expectant mom what other sake helps preserve the memories and
barely touched toys a new home. Also, experts cannot: kitchen table wisdom. the environment.
direct everyone to a cloth diapering Pass around a journal and ask guests
site, where they can purchase one reus- to finish a simple, but poignant state- Helen Coronato is an author, speaker
able diaper for the wishing well. Many ment like, “What I wish most for you and consultant. Her latest book,
people want to go green, but are new is…” or “Looking back, I wish I would Eco-Friendly Families, is packed
to nursery ideas, so be sure to provide have known…” Along with reducing, with concrete advice, useful tips and
the details. reusing, and recycling, going green is a fun strategies for families who want to
spiritual practice.
go green. Visit HelenCoronato.com.
May 2009 19
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