I’m loving the look of the simple dried orange garland for my holiday decor this season. Not only is it a refreshing change from the red and green color scheme but it brings a new energy to an otherwise dreary time of year. It’s also a very sustainable decoration since oranges and twine are compostable!
As much as I love DIY projects I’m not the first one to jump into a complicated craft at the end of a long work day. I don’t keep many crafting supplies at home (but like, who really does?) and I can never come up with cute ideas. This is just reality for us busy gals out there.
When I saw this on Pinterest, however, I thought this was maybe one I couldn’t screw up. The big selling point was I didn’t need to go to a craft store to make it happen.
A dried orange garland is probably the easiest craft you can find. I’ll walk you though what I did step by step, I promise you can do it and it will be gorgeous!
What you need: 2 oranges, a cookie sheet, parchment paper, twine or a very thin string.
Step 1: Get about 2 oranges and slice them thin *about 1/4 of an inch*
Step 2: Place them on parchment paper on a cookie sheet and pop them in the oven on a low heat setting such as 200 degrees fahrenheit. *remember you’re not baking so it’s hard to screw up if you vary the temp a bit*
Step 3: Wait. This is the hardest, but they will need at least 3 hours in the oven. As long as they are not burning you can leave them in for a while.
Step 4: Once you take the orange slices out of the oven and let them cool off use a pencil or a pen to poke two holes on either side of the orange and string your twine (or string of choice through) the holes. Knot off the edges an hang anywhere you like!
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This time of year we tend to consume more and spend more. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE giving and getting gifts for Christmas but I wanted to share some simple ways that I’m trying to have a more sustainable holiday season. It’s actually not that hard to keep in mind ways to reduce waste while still enjoying all of your favorite holiday traditions.
But first, here are some stats to take in…
During the holidays, Americans produce an additional 5 million tons of waste (4 million of that consists of wrapping paper and shopping bags).
35% of Americans have gifts that they never use.
If every American family wrapped just 3 presents in reused materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.
60 million unwanted gifts are given each year, many end up in the trash.
Most wrapping paper is not recyclable.
Here Are Some Ways To Be More Sustainable This Holiday Season
Green Gifting
Shop second hand: Websites such as Thredup (the worlds largest online thrift store), The Real Real (luxury consignment) and Poshmark (it’s like shopping your friend’s closet, except you have thousands of friends) are smart alternatives to shopping brand new items from traditional retail stores.
Check out antique stores: I absolutely love a treasure hunt in a good antique store. You can always find some pretty unique gifts there. Or if you’re like me, go in with every intention of buying gifts for others but end up buying a ton of stuff for yourself.
Give Intangible Items: Tickets to a sporting event or concert, membership to a local club, a gift card to a spa or restaurant, or a subscription to an online magazine or streaming service. We often don’t think of these but they tend to be more enjoyable and a heck of a lot less wasteful.
Shop from brands that emphasize sustainable and ethical practices. I have a whole list over on my holiday gift guide but some include: Everlane, Alternative Apparel, Thought, and Outdoor Voices. To have a more sustainable holiday season notice where you are spending your dollars. Is it going towards companies that share your same values?
Eco Conscious Wrapping
This is probably where the largest amount of waste is produced during the holidays.
This year try using reusable or recyclable wrapping options. Wrapping paper that is un-laminated without any metalic, shiny, or glitter is your best bet if you want recyclable wrapping paper. Just note, tissue paper is not recyclable, but you can compost it.
Newspaper, butcher paper, paper bags are a recyclable option. My mom was a teacher so each year she would bring home a big roll of brown paper and we would decorate it with markers, paint, and stamps. That made the wrapping a bit more personal, and it had a sweet DIY look too. You can get really fancy and use flower seed paper, so that after it is used you can plant it and grow flowers! Fabric and reusable gift bags are also great options. I always save gift bags and reuse them again and again, but I’m pretty sure everybody does that too.
Ribbons and bows are not recyclable so try to use cloth ribbon that is you can use year after year. If you are gifted those traditional shiney paper bows and ribbon see if you can reuse it before you chuck it in the trash. Twine is compostable alternative to ribbon, and you can use things like greenery, cinnamon sticks, and pine cones to decorate gifts instead of bows.
Real or Fake Tree?
Ah the age old debate. When looking at it from a sustainability standpoint they both have pros and cons, so either way it probably doesn’t make much of a difference. But it’s always good to be informed…
Real Tree
Pros: Christmas tree farms produce oxygen so I guess it’s a good thing to support an industry that produces oxygen. They are compostable once the holidays are over.
Cons: They are used for just once season then tossed, so the life span is really short. Most people don’t compost them so they end up being very wasteful when millions of trees end up in a landfill.
*If you are going to get a real tree try to get a local Christmas tree at a farm near you so it doesn’t have a big footprint being transported long distances*
Fake Tree
Pros: They can last for many years which saves real trees from being cut down and put in landfills.
Cons: When it is time to retire the tree it’s definitely not compostable or recycleable.
Sustainable Holiday Decorations
Natural & Compostable
For decorating your home use natural items such as real garland. Bonus points if you can make it yourself using twine to tie the greenery together because as you might recall, twine is compostable. Other natural decorations you can make yourself that are compostable are cranberry/popcorn/dried orange garland, pine cones, or take the low branches they cut off your tree when you buy it and use them to make a wreath.
Second Hand Decorations
If you go to antique or thrift stores around this time of year you will see so many second hand decorations. Most of them are in great shape, and even have some charm if they are super old. If you are going to buy things new make sure you buy items that you will use for many years rather than disposable decorations or trendy decor you will be sick of by next year.
Carbon Neutral Travel
If you are traveling by air or by car this year and want to have a sustainable holiday there a websites you can use to offset your carbon footprint. I haven’t used them yet but places like Carbon Fund and Terra Pass will offset your carbon footprint (for a fee obviously).
A free option is by booking your hotel through Trip Zero which is a hotel booking platform like we’ve all used, but by booking through them they will offset your trip for free! I use it whenever I need to go to a hotel.
Eco-Entertaining
We can’t forget about entertaining! To have a sustainable holiday gathering avoid disposables at parties whether you are hosting or a guest. If you are a guest offer to bring extra silverware, plates or glasses so the host doesn’t need to use plastic utensils or paper plates. Compostable utensils and plates are also becoming more of a thing nowadays (yay) so if you are having a large gang they might be a great option. Most plastic utensils and paper plates are not recyclable because they have food on them.
It’s common to cleanse and scrub the skin with a washcloth or loofah when you’re in the shower. But have you heard about dry brushing? In a nutshell, dry brushing involves brushing the skin with a dry brush before you shower to remove the layer of dead skin cells.
I like to dry brush for about a minute before I get into the shower. It doesn’t have to be a long drawn out process (unless you’ve got time) but short and frequent works best for most of us.
With anything that is considered “alternative” there is often a lack of scientific evidence to indicate its benefits (obviously something to consider) but, this isn’t science it’s exfoliation, people!
Exfoliation has been practiced for hundreds of centuries by different cultures including the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, East Indians, Native Americans, Chinese, Japanese, Russians, Turks, and Scandinavians. This was mainly done by similar mechanical exfoliation such as using corn cobs, crushed seashells, and sand. So you’re in good company.
What are the Benefits of Dry Brushing?
1. Detoxifying
The lymphatic system is where the body flushes out toxins and waste. The lymphatic system circulates through the body and carries white blood cells that fight infections. Dry brushing is long believed (like for centuries) to help stimulate the lymphatic system and enhance the detoxification process.
2. Exfoliation
Dry brushing really helps removing dead skin cells. Age, hormones, and environmental factors can affect the natural process of shedding dead skin cells, and can result in the build-up of dead cell layers. Exfoliation is vital at this stage to help eliminate the buildup of dead tissue.
Dry brushing is a gentler, easier and more affordable way to incorporate regular exfoliation into your daily routine. If the idea of using chemical peels is intimidating (and, like, why in the world would you put a chemical exfoliator all over your body anyway?) dry brushing can be a great alternative. It can be done anytime and anywhere, whether you’re at home or traveling. You really only need to invest in a dry brush once since it does not run out like chemical solutions.
3. Aids in circulation
Dry brushing is also great for the circulatory system, the body’s vital transport system for blood, oxygen, and nutrients. Dry brushing can help improve poor blood circulation by stimulating circulation which helps keep the blood flowing.
4. Cellulite
Some say dry brushing reduces the appearance of cellulite but I hesitate to claim that as a benefit here for two reasons. 1) There are no scientific studies to prove or refute this claim, and 2) Theres NOTHING wrong with having cellulite!*PSA: Do your part in crushing the patriarchal mindset by accepting and loving your cellulite and body exactly as it is. What a rebellious act that would be.
Other benefits of dry brushing include:
Opens the pores
Develops muscle tone
Relaxes muscle tension
Refreshes the nervous system
Helps in digestion
Relieves stress
Energizing
What about ionic dry brushes?
I wrote a whole post about my experience with ionic dry brushing, but basically hen you brush your skin with an ionic body brush, you create a natural friction between the ion-charged copper bristles and your skin.
That friction creates negative ions on the surface of your skin, which in turn provides your body with a multitude of ‘spare’ electrons which are ready to neutralize free radicals that come into contact with your body. I thought that was kinda cool. And apparently the health benefits of dry brushing are greatly enhanced through the use of an ionic body brush.
How to Dry Brush
It is suggested that you always brush towards the heart. Start at your feet and brush upwards towards the legs. Strokes ideally should be done 7 to 14 times on each portion of the skin.
Next, move on to your hands and make upward sweeping strokes to your arms.
Next target the neck area. Working on one side of the jawline, start from the earlobe and sweep all the way to the chin. Repeat on the opposite side.
From the base of the back of the neck, sweep all the way to the collarbone. Start with one side, and afterwards work on the other.
Targeting your breast area, brush with light strokes towards the heart starting from the collarbone. The pressure should be very light.
Move to your belly and brush up towards the heart.
Move on to your armpits and with your arm extended overhead, brush down and towards the chest.
Next, start from your hips and sweep upwards to your armpits. Start with one side and repeat on the other side afterwards.
Moving to your back, start from the tailbone sweeping up towards your head. Have someone help with the back for the places you can’t reach.
Like this? Share it on Pinterest! C’mon, you know you were gonna spend like two hours there anyway today 😉
I’m 50/50 when it comes to being a total believer or complete sceptic regarding the health claims of many products I try. I see this all over the wellness industry; products that make outrageous statements of the benefits making you feel like you have to buy it. That’s marketing 101. I get that. So While I am totally into it I also take everything with a grain of salt.
So, why did I give the ionic brush thing a try?
The health benefits of dry brushing (which I like to do on a fairly regular basis) are said to be enhanced through the use of an ionic dry brush, which has its origin in ancient Ayurvedic practices (another thing I am super into). So we got of to a good start.
The ion-charged copper bristles naturally create negative ions that supposedly protect your body from free radicals and have numerous other health benefits. The molecular composition of the bristles encourages the direct and immediate absorption of negative ions into your skin, or so they say, which increases the benefits of dry brushing. I figured why the heck not give it a go?
How Do Ionic Dry Brushes Work?
When you brush your skin with an ionic body brush, you create a natural friction between the ion-charged copper bristles and your skin. That friction creates negative ions on the surface of your skin.
Using an ionic body brush has the effect of providing your body with an excess of negative ions, which in turn provides your body with a multitude of ‘spare’ electrons which are ready to neutralize free radicals that come into contact with your body. In other words, regularly using an ionic body brush essentially creates a ‘protective ion shield’ around your body.
Now, my sceptic brain said “where’s the proof of that?” And I don’t have an answer. Maybe somewhere out there is a scientific study about this, but honestly y’all, it’s a dry brush not a cure for cancer. I can chill out on the “where’s the proof” talk for a bit.
Choosing the right brush
Here are the things I look for in a brush:
It’s made of natural natural bristles, such as plant fibers, animal hair, or copper (synthetic bristles such as plastic will be too stiff and harsh for your skin).
Ethical and sustainable sourcing (something I am keeping in mind for ALL things I buy nowadays).
The ionic dry brush I first tried is by Prana Brush, here’s what I like about it:
I like that Prana Brushes are handmade in California from sustainably-harvested beechwood. I am all about supporting small, local businesses, especially ones that have sustainability and ethical sourcing in mind. Also, all of their brushes features an outer ring of bristles made from ethically-sourced boar hair.
The ion-charged copper bristles in Prana brushes are made from an alloy of copper and zinc, both of which are very important trace minerals. Copper aids in the formation of collagen, facilitates the absorption of iron, and plays a central role in energy production. In addition, zinc is essential for healthy hormone production, maintaining energy levels, supporting immunity, and promoting good digestion.
The unique molecular structure of the copper bristles permits negative ions (created by the friction between the copper bristles and your skin) to be directly absorbed by your skin and into your body.
My thoughts after using the Prana brush
Ok, holy dead skin cells! oh. my. god. I can’t even tell you. The exfoliating factor is a 10 out of 10. While I was brushing I could see the dead skin cells come up like a puff of smoke with each brush stroke. Like imagine opening a new bottle of baby powder when you get that little “poof” of powder. It was that intense. But I can’t tell you how satisfying it was.
Now, because the bristles are copper it was a more intense sensation than my other much softer brush. So I would not recommend it if you have cuts or burns. The brushing almost hurt but like a good kind of hurt if that makes any sense. I got used to it after a few days but the first time I tried it I was like “ouch, that kinds hurts.”
I wasn’t able to see a visible difference in my skin but I did notice an energized feeling in my body after brushing. It’s like a quick jolt of coffee. Especially in the morning before a shower it definitely gave me a boost. My skin felt tingly and awake (if you can imagine what that feels like).
It’s a bit addicting. Anytime I felt sluggish or lazy I would find myself wanting to go and use the brush because I knew it would give me a much needed boost. I think this would be good for anyone to keep in their purse or at their desk and use during that afternoon slump at work if you have a space you can do it.
As for the whole “negative ion” thing I can’t really speak to it because I wasn’t sure what to look for. It’s not exactly like I know the feeling of having extra negative ions in my body or anything. So while it’s a cool notion it’s hard to quantify.
To sum it up:
Pros: Great exfoliator! Leaves you feeling energized.
Cons: Copper bristles are a bit tough and may be intense for sensitive people.
If you want to give it a try, the lovely people at Prana Brush gave me a discount code for my readers so you can try it out yourself! Use the code BLOOMANDSPARK15 for 15% off.
Yes, you read that correctly. The rise and demise of fast fashion is upon us.
But let’s take a walk down memory lane shall we? Do you remember back in high school the thrill of shopping at stores like Forever 21 and getting the latest trends for just a few dollars? It felt pretty amazing to be able to spend your babysitting money on a cute pair of ripped low rise jeans so Brad in 5th period would hopefully notice you this year ’cause your braces finally came off (!!!). But what we didn’t realize was the real cost of cheap, fast fashion.
Fast Fashion Defined
“An approach to the design, creation, and marketing of clothing fashions that emphasizes making fashion trends quickly and cheaply available to consumers.” -Merriam-Webster
“Fast fashion utilizes trend replication, rapid production, and low quality materials in order to bring inexpensive styles to the public. Unfortunately, this results in harmful impacts to the environment, human well-being, and ultimately our wallets.” -The Good Trade
“Fast fashion” is a term used by fashion retailers to describe inexpensive designs that move quickly from the catwalk to stores to meet new trends. As a result of this trend, the tradition of introducing new fashion lines on a seasonal basis is being challenged. Today, it is not uncommon for fast-fashion retailers to introduce new products multiple times in a single week to stay on-trend.” -Investopedia
How Fast Fashion Got Started
Only until recently the fashion industry had four seasons (winter, spring, summer, and fall). Each season pieces were carefully designed and brought to market. (For a much more thorough history than I can give here, check out this article from Fashionista.com)
In the 1960s, as young people began to set and follow new trends, the industry had to respond by producing newer, trendier, and cheaper clothing.
This model slowly picked up speed until the fast fashion retail market exploded in the 90’s and early 00’s.
Somewhere in this time the consumer mentality shifted from owning a few pieces of quality, hand crafted garments, to weekly shopping trips to the mall and owning more clothes at cheaper prices.
To support our fashion fix, companies had to outsource labor to developing companies, shift to cheaper fabrics and dyes, and forgo quality in favor of production speed.
The Environmental and Ethical Impact
I am so sorry to be the bearer of bad news (I wanted to cry when doing research for this post) but it’s best to be an educated consumer so here are the facts.
Toxicity: When clothing is made cheaply it’s often made withtoxic chemicals, dyes, and synthetic fabrics which seep into the water suppliesin the countries where the clothing is made and at home when the clothing is washed. An estimated 20% of global industrial water pollution comes from the treatment and dyeing of textiles.
Pollution:In addition to the making of your clothes, when you wash clothes made from cheap synthetic fabrics microfibers are leaked into the water supply, causing more pollution. Microfibers are microscopic pieces of plastic, just like the microbeads that were banned from those old acne scrub products and toothpastes (I know, we all thought those were so cool at the time).
Unethical Labor: The health of every garment factory worker is often jeopardized due to long hours, lack of resources, exposure to harmful chemicals, and even physical abusein some cases. The women and men (and sometimes children) who make your new spring frock are often underpaid, underfed, and pushed to their limits because there are often few other options. I don’t know about you, but I personally do not want to contribute to that if I can help it.
Waste: The easy-come-easy-go nature of fast fashion means we don’t think twice before tossing a garment that has lost its shape, faded, shrunk, or just gone out of style. According to Rubicon over 11 million tons of recyclable clothing, shoes, and textiles make their way into landfills each year.
The Demise of Fast Fashion
In recent years the once unstoppable growth of the fast fashion industry has taken a turn. Business Insider reported that H&M recently announced they would be closing 160 stores worldwide after accumulating over $4 billion dollars worth of unsold clothing that was piling up, causing them to take a major financial hit.
There is also a phenomenal articles about this in the New York Times if you want to dive deeper down this rabbit hole.
We don’t need to build our end-of-the-world-bunkers just yet. With the imminent demise of fast fashion comes the rise of sustainable fashion. This video from Teen Vogue (of all places) hits the nail on the head.
Like it? Share it! C’mon, you know you’re gonna be on Pinterest today anyway.
Hi, I’m Caroline! Welcome to Bloom & Spark, an intuition led, wellness based lifestyle blog. With a focus on mindfulness and sustainability this space is for creating authentic engagement in what it means to live well. Here you will find insights and lifestyle tips for yoga & meditation, simple recipes, purposeful living, and realistic sustainability. Manifesting Generator, Gemini,
