this year, breaking with tradition, curtis and i are letting our kids trick or treat & spend the night with friends, and we are going to a halloween camp out! sounds fun, right? but let's review:
- i hate cold, and our overnight low is 36
- i hate camping
sounds dire! but on the other hand:
- it is backyard camping, and there will be indoor bathrooms
- it is backyard camping with some of the greatest people we know
- i am promised there will be a large firepit, meat on sticks, and kahlua for my hot chocolate
with enough kahlua, anything is possible! :)
man, a week can fly by, huh? here are some more good gifting ideas...
- www.ulta.com - ecotools... bamboo handles and hemp fibers, these are great makeup brushes! for the diva on you list... :)
- www.joshjakus.com - recycled placemats with built in napkin rings... very fun!
- www.worldvision.com - give some ducks or a goat, clean water or pay for the education of an aids orphan, teach a woman a trade or buy a share in a whole farm! i say this every year, but this is the best way to give!!
- www.btcelements.com - very cool organic and recyled gifts - including fruit bowls made from potato chip bags collected from the streets of nepal!
- www.amazon.com - 'worldchanging' is a book that covers nearly every environmental base, offering tips on how to go green, as well as teaching about the newest eco-technology!
- www.ecoist.com - how cool are these??!? genuine vinyl records, repurposed as coasters! (and cruise the site for more cool things!)
- www.rainbowgifts-usa.com - ha! elephant poop! who knew??
i know you remember the bird debacle - The Girls traipsing home from 3 weeks at mimi's with a cage & 2 zebra finches. they were a surprisingly pleasant addition to the household, until a couple weeks ago, when fezzik (of 'the princess bride' frame) began plucking the feathers from inigo "you-killed-my-father"'s head! poor inigo! he is almost totally bald! and let me tell you - a bald finch is not a pretty sight. the back of his head looks not unlike lord voldemort. *sigh*
so i did a little research... and it's either:
- a cage too small
- stress - from any number of mysterious sources
- territorial
- sexual frustration (we do not have a mating pair, only 2 boys)
- boredom
- over-stimulation
we are going to try to address these issues, even though some of them contradict each other! starting with a bigger cage & more cat-prevention. i will let you know how it goes.
poor inigo...
ps.... over on breezy's blog, re: politics, religion & race ... "I despise when people throw around what's "Christian" and what is "not Christian"...honestly I think it makes me look like I fall into their ignorant group because I am a Christian...but I'll tell you this, I'm not one of THEM." i couldn't agree more.
in the upcoming spirit of christmas, for the next week i will posting lists of unique, eco-friendly, fair-trade or sustainable gift ideas! woot! check them out - i promise something for everyone, and something for every budget! it's my christmas present to you! :)
- www.suubiafrica.org - 100% hand-rolled paper, made in uganda, these pieces provide consistent income for ugandan families. styles for men & women!
- www.uncommongoods.com - there's a lot to choose from here, but these are reclaimed tin ceiling tiles made into gorgeous photo frames. this is a fun site to cruise!
- www.wishingfish.com - another site that offers so much! but this 'apple-tree-to-be' kit is fabulous!
- the ethical travel guide - with the big idea that tourism should always benefit local people, this guide has resources for 60+ destinations.
- www.lumens.com - an 80 page sketchbook that has 4x6 cutouts in the center to accomodate pictures! for the artist you love...
- www.thegreenloop.com - a watch made from recycled footballs! go team!
- www.sourcingmap.com - a very cool wooden LED alarm clock! i have no idea how it works, really, but it is very interesting!
- www.simpleshoes.com - (thanks, mamie, for the idea!) these are eco-friendly & vegan shoes - super cute, super friendly for the world! made from a variety of materials, ranging from recycled inner tubes, bike tires and milk bottles, to felts, organic cotton & coconut!
that's all for now... more to come!
"Whatever You're doing inside of me/It feels like chaos but I try to believe"
reading a new book ... thinking about some things... trying to grow up a little... trying to forgive...
