Green Camping Essentials: 4 Simple Ways to Enjoy Nature and Minimize Your Footprint

August 8, 2012 by Leave a Comment
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As busy as our lives are these days, even something as simple as planning a vacation in the great outdoors can become a source of stress. This goes double if you’re trying to incorporate the green living techniques you use at home while you’re miles away from civilization. Here are four simple ways to minimize your footprint and keep it green any time you go camping.

1. Plug the Energy Drains at Home

One of the easiest things to overlook when preparing to go on any type of vacation is the state your home will be in while you’re away. This is especially important during the summer months when you tend to use air-conditioning and/or watering systems to feed your lawns and gardens on a consistent basis.

Start by unplugging all electronics and appliances that won’t be in use or needed while you’re away. Plugged-in electronics can continue to use energy even when turned off so the only way to stop these energy vampires is to unplug them completely. Ideally, the only things that you should keep powered on are lights to deter burglars, but instead of running them 24/7, put them on a timer so that they only run at night.

Turn your air conditioner off and set your thermostat to 80 or 85 F. This sounds a little hot but you would be amazed how much energy is saved with every 3-5 degrees you turn up the thermostat in the summer. Check the extended forecast to see if there will be any rain or cooling trends and adjust or reduce your timed lawn or garden sprinklers accordingly, to save water.

2. Pack Light, Pack Smart

There’s no getting around it: the more stuff you bring with you when you go camping, the more stuff you’ll either have to leave behind or haul back. Remember, the whole point of camping is to enjoy the outdoors not drag all the creature comforts of home along with you! Try to limit what you bring to the things you know you will really need.

One way to camp in comfort without over-packing is to bring equipment that is either multi-purpose or reusable. For example, a bottle of multi-purpose soap that can clean your dishes, clothes, and skin is a lot easier to carry than a bunch of bottles of shower gel, shampoo, and detergent. Bring along something like Wilderness Wash that’s biodegradable and free of fragrance and other harsh chemicals.

Your silverware and dishes should be reusable, ideally made of aluminum, stainless steel, or BPA-free plastic. Ditch disposable plates and plastic utensils because they create a tremendous amount of waste.

3. Respect the Outdoors

When you camp, be sure to show your love and respect for nature by not causing unnecessary damage to your environment. When you shower or wash your dishes, do so at least 200 feet away from any natural sources of water to prevent the chance of contamination (even when using biodegradable soap). Instead of burying your trash, take it with you and ensure that it is properly disposed of. Stick to well-worn paths and trails when you hike, even if it means taking the long way to your destination –creating shortcuts can cause permanent damage to an area.

Be respectful of animals you encounter along the way, after all, it’s their home you are visiting. If you’re camping in bear country make sure you take the proper steps to conceal your foods because hell hath no wrath like that of a hungry bear! See this site BackCountryAttitude.com for more information on how to bear-proof your campsite.

4. Leave Your Campsite the Way You Found It

“Leave No Trace” is one of the cornerstones of eco-friendly camping. When it’s time to leave, your campgrounds or camping area should look just the way they did when you arrived if not better. It can be tempting to a leave a mark that shows you were there, like a carving in a tree or scratching your name on a rock. These types of activities can cause long-term damage and increase the chance that others will add their mark too –further scarring the land.

Resist the temptation to take home souvenirs. Leave stones, feathers, artifacts, shells, petrified wood, etc. so that others may enjoy them. Take pictures of them instead and use your pictures as mementos of your trip.

If you are not camping in a designated campground, then take your trash (and any trash that other people may have left behind) with you.

Copyright 2009-2012 Dropwise Essentials

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Donya Fahmy, is a green business owner and the creator of Dropwise Essentials’ spa-quality aromatherapy body products that help you safely relieve stress, increase vitality, improve confidence, or simply manage your emotional state any time or place without popping a pill. For more free tips and valuable information visit www.dropwise.com and subscribe to the Dropwise Health & Beauty News Ezine or blog feed.

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Sweet Turned Sour? The Environmental Cost of Our Appetite for Sugar

July 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment
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Looking for another reason to lower the amount of sugar in your diet? I can give you two more. Consider this: according to the World Wildlife Fund, sugar does more damage to biodiversity and the environment than any other crop. In a report titled “Sugar and the Environment,” the WWF estimates that over 150 million tons of sugar are produced each year by 121 countries all over the world. Sugar production and harvesting impact ecosystems in many different ways.

Biodiversity

Consumer demand for sugar grows each year, and the amount of land dedicated to sugar production increases with it. Unfortunately, this land doesn’t come ready-made to support sugar cane production –substantial clearing is required to make land available for sugar growth. Sugar production destroys a variety of different habitats, and this loss of habitat leads to a loss of species.

Water pollution and consumption

It probably won’t surprise you to hear that sugar requires water to grow. But the numbers are truly staggering –it takes 88 gallons of water to produce a five-pound bag of sugar. That’s twice as much water per pound, as fruit production, and four times as much as it takes to produce vegetables. Besides requiring massive amounts of water to grow the sugar, it also takes a lot to process it. Factories use large amounts of water to clean the soil off of roots during harvest.

Some of the water that is used in sugar cultivation turns into runoff, spilling out of the farm’s boundaries to flow into natural waterways and aquatic habitats, polluting existing sources of water with toxic chemicals and pesticides.

Though these effects listed above are the most damaging results of sugar production, they are far from the only ones. Sugar production also leads to lesser soil quality in many areas from repeated use, and air pollution from crop burning and factory emissions.

As a consumer, you can’t necessarily control the actions of politicians and big industry when it comes to reducing the impact of sugar production on the environment. You can still do your part by reducing your consumption of sugar cane. There are many natural sweeteners that you can use as substitutes that won’t harm you or the environment. Though you may not enjoy your coffee as much without sugar, a cleaner planet for everyone is a pretty sweet treat.

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Happy Earth Day! A Good Day (and Week) to Honor Those Who Contribute to Our Survival and Well Being

April 22, 2012 by Leave a Comment
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Happy Earth Day! I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the importance of honoring and acknowledging the contribution of others to our lives and personal well being, as well as those whose efforts contribute to the greater good. The second half of April commemorates two special occasions that give us a wonderful opportunity to do just that: Earth Day (today) and Administrative Professionals Day (April 25th).

Earth Day is as much a tribute to Mother Earth as it is to the early activists and organizers that turned environmentalism into a cultural phenomenon, and to those who continue to work hard at improving on what’s already been accomplished. What started in 1970 as a grassroots symbolic gesture in support of the health of the environment, has turned into a powerful annual homage to mother nature, and an important reminder of how dependent we are on the earth’s fragile but resilient eco-system for our very own survival and well-being.

And speaking of our survival and well-being –especially in the business world and in the workplace—no one can deny the tremendous contribution of secretaries, clerical employees, and all manner of administrative professionals to the success of the businesses who employ them or use their services. The last week of this month is Administrative Professionals’ Week –now one of the largest workplace observances– and Administrative Professionals’ Day (formerly known as Secretary’s Day) is part of this week-long celebration.

Personally, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate these two big occasions than by giving a green gift of aromatherapy to your favorite administrative professional! Then again, I’m a little biased …

If you have an administrative professional that contributes to your success or the success of your team or business, and you would like to find a meaningful way to recognize and acknowledge them, then consult our Gift Guide for great Administrative Professionals’ Day gift ideas. Aromatherapy gifts are a great way to instantly diffuse tension, relieve stress, and restore harmony. They’re also a great way to lift spirits and reward performance and teamwork. Not sure what to get? Try one of our electronic gift certificates.

We offer gift certificate options for $10, $25, $35, $50, $75 or $100 that can be emailed right up to the last minute! Electronic Gift Certificates are fast (instantly emailed when you complete your purchase), easy, totally carbon neutral, and are good for up to 2 years from date of purchase. The perfect option when it absolutely has to be there on or by the 25th! Buy your gift certificates here!

And as you celebrate Earth Day (and I hope you do in some way), ask yourself if your beauty and personal care routine is both clean AND green. If you’re not sure or need some tips on how to find out, read my last blog post “Clean and Green: Beautiful Skin and Environmental Health Go Hand in Hand“. In it I shared some criteria you can use to identify the health and environmental impacts of the products you use. If you’re not already using clean and green (and I hope you are), may it inspire you to make the switch!

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Summer’s Here and the Time is Right: 5 Tips for Greening Your Travel

June 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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These days you probably hear the catch phrases “eco-friendly travel,” “green travel,” and “eco-tourism” quite a bit as early adopters in the travel arena try to set the ground rules for how the rest of us will eventually “green” this aspect of our lives too.

While the term “eco-tourism” tends to conjure up images of what some refer to as “volunteer vacations” where you might be involved in a beach clean up project or wildlife preservation program, you really don’t have to sacrifice comfort or go for an adventure in the wild to do it. There are as many different ways to green your travel, as there are ways to travel. It’s all a matter of degree and commitment.

The truth is that while these terms actually mean different things they all follow the same guiding principle: be mindful of your impact on the natural habitats and cultural environments that you visit. In other words, leave no footprint behind, respect the local cultures and customs, and wherever possible, make a positive contribution to the local communities.

If you want to green your travel then always keep this core principle close to your heart. And practice the 3 Rs inherent in any greening activities: Reduce, Re-use and Recycle. So what does that exactly mean when it comes to travel? Here are 5 tips to help you get started.

1. Maintain Carbon Neutrality. While you can purchase carbon offsets for a nominal price to assuage your guilt, one the best ways to minimize your impact is to take fewer plane, train, and car rides to get to your destination (i.e. fly non-stop as much as possible and map out the most efficient routes for road travel).

For shorter trips take the train instead of a plane. This works out well if you’re traveling in Europe where the train system is extensive, fast, and reasonably priced. If you must rent a car, try to rent a hybrid, electric car, or most fuel-efficient model available.

2. Use Public Transportation. Once you arrive at your destination, make a point of using the local or regional public transportation systems to get around as much as you can. Better yet ride a bicycle or walk. This also helps maintain carbon neutrality.

3. Reduce Energy Consumption. At home and on the go, there are numerous ways to lower your energy consumption. For example, at the hotel where you stay turn off lights, air conditioning, and appliances whenever you are out or not using them. Tell them that you would like re-use towels and sheets. Most larger hotels now enable you to let them know when you want or need the linens changed. At home unplug all unused appliances and keep critical systems like lights and sprinklers on timers for a minimal amount of time each day.

4. Think Global, Eat Local. While many of us are tempted to bring snacks and food from home along on our travels, try to get in the habit of leaving that stuff behind and enjoying local foods of the areas you are visiting. Become a traveling locavore –eat only foods that have been grown or produced within 100 miles of wherever you are on your travels. Choose regional foods, preferably organic and grown on a family farm or produced by a local business. This may take a little extra research up front to ensure you can find enough of a selection to suit your dietary needs and preferences. If you’re traveling to more exotic locales you might want to watch a few episodes of Anthony Bourdain’s TV show “No Reservations” for some ideas of where to go and what to try. Check your local listings for the Travel Channel.

5. Pack Light. There are many good reasons for packing just one bag chief among them is your increased mobility and flexibility on the ground, greater ability to walk or take public transportation, and lightening the overall load on a plane. Not only will this save jet fuel it will save you money in baggage check fees, excess weight fees and countless tips for all the porters and door people who handle your bags for you at every step of your journey.

Even travel connoisseur Rick Steves recommends you limit yourself to one carry-on bag no more than 20 lbs, and optimally one that fits under your plane seat as competition for those overhead bins just keeps getting stiffer all the time. His considerations are more practically motivated but ultimately have the same desired end-result.

Stay tuned for my follow up blog post on why this one thing alone can make a huge difference in helping you green your travel and some helpful tips on how to do it.

In the meantime, you can consult the Independent Traveler web site Green Travel Resources for ways to offset your carbon emissions and some choices for eco-friendly lodging.

 

Copyright 2011 Dropwise Essentials

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Donya Fahmy, is a green business owner and the creator of Dropwise Essentials’ spa-quality aromatherapy body products that help you safely relieve stress, increase vitality, improve confidence, or simply manage your emotional state any time or place without popping a pill. For more free tips and valuable information visit www.dropwise.com and subscribe to the Dropwise Health & Beauty News Ezine or blog feed.

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Splendor in the Grass: 13 Ways to Green Your Wedding

May 19, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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I’ve written many articles in the past about the different ways you can “green” your lifestyle. From greening your personal care routine and green cleaning your home, to greening your wardrobe and your sleep routine, to greening your holidays. With summer just around the corner it will soon be high season for weddings of all sorts, so to help you green this all-important life-changing event I consulted the experts at the Green Bride Guide and they obligingly sent me their top 13 recommendations for ways to green your wedding.

  1. Invitations. Recycled and post-consumer waste paper, tree-free paper, soy inks, and digital correspondence options all offer elegant ways to reduce resource-consumption, waste, and the use of harsh chemicals.

  2. Jewelry. Eco-conscious jewelers use recycled stones and metals, and ethically sourced gemstones. Family heirlooms, vintage or antiques, and handmade items are sustainable, often less expensive options.

  3. Flowers. Using local, seasonal and organic flowers that are not doused with pesticides, lowers fuel consumption and is often less costly than ordering exotic species. Also consider simpler arrangements, faux flowers, or reusing ceremony flowers at your reception.

  4. Attire. No matter what your style or taste, there are many ways to green your wedding attire, from buying organic, vintage, or re-wearing a family dress, to donating items afterwards.

  5. Gifts. By registering with eco-friendly companies you can support sustainable business and educate your guests about eco-friendly products. Some registry organizations will donate a portion of the sales from your items.

  6. Favors. There are tons of fun and non-wasteful favor ideas like CFL bulbs, small potted plants or soy candles. Or, instead of a tangible favor, consider making a small donation for each guest to a cause you support.

  7. Venue. Choosing an eco-friendly venue will drastically reduce the environmental impact of your wedding. However you can add green touches no matter where you have your reception.

  8. Travel. Ecotourism options, green hotels, and carbon offsets all conserve resources and ensure your money makes its way into the local economy. To further lessen the impact of your honeymoon, explore local or volunteer vacation options.

  9. Photography. Green photographers reduce waste, paper and chemical consumption by using rechargeable batteries, non-toxic inks, 100% post-consumer waste paper, online proofs, LED and CFL bulbs, and recycling.

  10. Décor. Using your location and the season for inspiration will provide natural, cost-saving décor ideas, such as collecting sea glass or shells from a nearby beach for a summer celebration. Vintage items or pieces from friends and family add unique flare.

  11. Food and Beverage. Working with your caterer to create a menu of local, in-season organic foods and beverages will decrease the carbon footprint of your meal and support the local economy.

  12. Transportation. To minimize emissions, hold your ceremony and reception in one centralized location close to your friends and family. Encourage carpools and public transit, or rent an alternative energy bus or trolley for guests.

  13. Beauty and Make-Up. Because many cosmetics contain toxic chemicals, use all-natural beauty and hair products or seek out a “green” salon for your wedding day. It is much healthier, safer and green!

Copyright 2011

This article was brought to you by our friends at the Green Bride Guide.

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Happy Earth Day! Let’s Pay Homage to the Plants & Keep it Going Strong

April 22, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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Today is the 41st anniversary of Earth Day. Wow! It’s amazing to see how what started back in 1970 as a grassroots symbolic gesture in support of the environment, has sprouted into a powerful annual month-long homage to mother nature. An important reminder of how dependent we are on the earth’s fragile but resilient eco-system for our very own survival and wellbeing.

Every year for Earth Day I normally participate in some kind of local event to support my mission to educate people on the different ways they can “green” their lifestyles –especially with regard to their body care products and beauty routines.

I consider events like these a wonderful opportunity to engage directly with people in a simple conversation about some different ways of looking at the relative impacts of the products they currently use. I ask them to consider first and foremost what impact these products have on their health, and then of course, what their impact is on the health of the environment. These two things are closely intertwined and one typically follows the other. If it’s not safe and healthy for you, then the impact is almost always the same for the environment.

With the growing interest and moral imperative to be “Green” in all aspects of our lives, talking about this issue on Earth Day seems appropriate, but to have any real or meaningful impact requires having this conversation in some level or fashion every day and sharing it with everyone we can! We need to talk the talk AND walk the walk and sometimes doing the former is a LOT easier than the latter.

This year, instead of just talking the talk I am going to walk the walk too. Instead of getting in my car, burning fossil fuel and adding CO2 to the atmosphere in order to reach out to a small handful of curious and committed souls, I am using the power of the Internet to reach out share my message with a much larger audience and further my mission.

From now through the end of the month, every person who signs up for our newsletter will receive a free copy of my article “Being Green Has Never Been Easier.” Whether you’re just starting out and trying to learn more about how to green your life, or if you’re looking for ways to improve on what you’re already doing, this article gives you some simple tips to get going and keep at it. To get your Health & Beauty News Subscription and FREE Going Green article follow and share this link: http://eepurl.com/drIA5

Remember, greening your lifestyle is a process but we all have to start somewhere. Please help me remain carbon neutral this Earth Day by sharing this information with your friends and networks and let’s keep this movement going and growing strong.

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Simple Ways to Green Your Holidays Tip #5: Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

December 14, 2010 by 1 Comment
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Minimizing your carbon footprint is one of the best things you can do during the holiday season –especially with all the travel and time people typically spend in cars, trains, or planes.

If you must travel this year, use public transportation whenever possible. Taking the train or bus instead of a flight is preferable, but if you must fly to your destination, try to book a direct flight as taking off and landing requires serious amounts of fuel.

Shopping online is another great way to reduce the time, energy, and fuel wasted driving to the mall, getting stuck in traffic jams, and endlessly circling around looking for parking. Shipping carriers like UPS now offer merchants the opportunity to purchase carbon offsets for their shipments. Ask online retailers if they use this option. Or take advantage of online retailers who offer electronic gift cards or certificates. What could be better than kicking back in the comfort of your home and using a computer to get all your holiday shopping and delivery handled for you? Skip the crowds, traffic jams, endless circling around looking for parking, and the long lines at the register. Use the money you save on gas to by nicer gifts!

And finally, skip mailing out holiday cards especially if your list is long. Consider using online card services like Paperless Post or for more whimsical offerings try Jacquie Lawson Animated E-cards. If you must send physical cards, choose cards made with recycled paper stock and if at all possible, vegetable or soy-based inks. Or, if you’re so inclined you can make your own. Crafts supply stores like Michaels carry a variety of paper stocks in different colors and now Martha Stewart has a line of craft making tools that make it easy and fun!

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Simple Ways to Green Your Holidays Tip #4: Entertaining with a Conscious Touch

December 13, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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Whether it’s dinner parties, buffets or cocktail receptions, you can certainly make your entertaining more sustainable both at home and at work. Starting with the invitations themselves. Instead of paper invitations, why not use an electronic invitation service like Evite to notify everyone? If you prefer paper invitations, use 100% recycled, bleach-free or FSC-certified paper. If you want to be really innovative try products from Ellie Pooh –paper products made from Elephant dung! If you’re hosting a big affair that involves printing invitations use a local green printer who can print on recycled stock using soy-based inks.

As for decorations, keep it simple. Use soy candles with lead-free wicks to create an ambience or use LED lights to be energy-efficient. Consider making decorative centerpieces with objects found in your backyard like pine boughs, sticks, and beautiful leaves; fresh or dried herb bundles; or bowls of potpourri made from natural ingredients like dried rose petals, citrus peel, cloves or other fruits and spices. Arrange them in a decorative container made of a sustainable wood or bamboo. Or purchase organic flowers from a local florist.

When planning your menu, remember to stick with locally grown produce, organic ingredients, free-range and hormone-free meats and poultry, and sustainably caught seafood –whether you’re doing the cooking or hiring someone else to do it. Use the good china and glasses instead of disposable plates, cups, and plastic cutlery. Not only is this more sustainable, it really enhances the ambience. If you must use a less expensive option, then opt for reusable dinner plates and real silverware or fully compostable dinnerware.

To up the ambience factor even more, diffuse holiday themed essential oils like fir, pine, spruce, juniper berry or cypress combined with essential oils of the spices typically associated with this time of the year (orange, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg). And don’t forget to add some holiday music! These days you can find holiday themed CDs for just about any genre of music you like. I tend to prefer collections or compilations featuring a variety of artists in a genre or mixed genres. Nothing beats holiday jazz for low-key but upbeat background music at a party!

Finally, set up clearly marked recycling bins or boxes for bottles and cans, and separate ones for plastics, paper, and compostable items. It may seem like a lot of extra work, but it’s well worth it and will make cleaning up a breeze. And if you want to up the ante and splurge a little, you can always give your guests some fair trade chocolate party favors to take home with them –they will appreciate and certainly remember your thoughtfulness (I know I would!).

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Simple Ways to Green Your Holidays Tip #3: Cool Gifts in Natural Garb

December 12, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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Holiday gift giving is probably the area that offers the greatest opportunity for deepening sustainability. From fair trade items like jewelry, crafts, clothing, and even food to organic baby toys and furniture, to making donations to local non-profits and charities on behalf of others, to volunteering or giving gifts of time or in-kind services. Re-gifting is a perfectly acceptable way to minimize waste following the principle of the 3 Rs (Re-use, Reduce and Recycle) –provided the items you’re re-gifting bring some value to the people you plan to give them to.

Culinary and handmade gifts are an excellent choice. It’s hard not to love a box of handmade cookies, a beautiful holiday cake, or even a carefully prepared meal made in your kitchen with love. If you’re too busy to cook, you can do a variation on this theme by making gift baskets with all the ingredients necessary to prepare a batch of your famous chocolate chip cookies or a delicious pasta dinner. To keep it as green as possible, be sure to use organic, fair trade, or locally produced ingredients.

Last month while walking the floor at the San Francisco Green Festival, I found a couple of items I thought would make interesting “green” gifts. The first was Hydros Bottles. These are re-usable BPA-free plastic water bottles with built-in filters. This Company also donates $1 from every sale to Engineers Without Borders as part of their effort to provide clean drinking water to a village in Cameroon so $1 provides 2,000 gallons of potable water. For more information checkout their web site at http://www.hydrosbottle.com.

The next item that caught my attention was Esse Reusable Bags. They make a complete reusable shopping bag system called the Carryall Tote –6 different bags in 1 convenient tote. They also have some of the most stylish reusable bags I’ve seen so far. You can check it out at their site: http://www.esselife.com.

Last but not least was Janielle Gibson’s Soul Gems. This dedicated jewelry designer has created a lovely line of sterling silver jewelry. 100% of the profit is donated to charities working to combat sex trafficking. You can read more about this on her site at http://www.soulgems.org.

And remember to keep the amount of gift-wrap you use to a minimum and forgo typical wrapping paper in favor of recycled or recyclable Kraft or white butcher paper. You can embellish your plain paper wrapping with reusable fabric ribbons like grosgrain, satin or organdy. Or opt for all natural materials like raffia and sinamay. You can also try read-made velvet cloth bags or organza pouches.

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Simple Ways to Green Your Holidays Tip #2: Deck the Halls with Natural Options

December 11, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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For many, the tree is merely a mechanism for displaying ornaments, and the joy of the season comes mostly from creating or acquiring, and hanging seasonal decorations. The greenest option here is ornaments made from all natural materials like dried fruits and popcorn, pinecones, and recycled material like metal, paper, and fabrics –including ribbons that can be used to make decorative bows.

Of course nothing adds more ambience to your holiday décor than lighting –whether it’s wrapped around a tree or strung along your windows. Now there is a wide selection of indoor and outdoor LED (Light Emitting Diodes) Christmas lights that can rival any of the traditional versions you’ve used over the years and have far superior energy efficiency. They have a lifespan of up to twenty years, use almost no energy when you plug them in, and they remain cool to the touch –minimizing any potential fire hazard. Thy even have miniature LED holiday lights that are battery-operated!

For outdoor lighting, consider solar powered light strings –especially if you live in a location that gets a reasonable amount of sunlight during winter months.

If you like to hang wreaths on your doors during the holidays, then some of the same considerations that apply to getting a Christmas tree would apply here as well. Natural wreaths are always preferable to synthetic ones, which are made with some of the same potentially toxic petroleum by-products as most fake trees. And sadly, there’s no way to recycle or sustain the wreath after the holidays. Your best option is a hand-made re-usable version of a wreath made from eco-friendly materials –recycled cardboard or paper, sustainable wood, dried boughs, pinecones, twigs, that can be preserved and glued together or something on the order of a doughnut shaped quilted pillow or woven ribbons, etc. This could be the basis of an art project that you do with your kids or loved ones. The cleaner and simpler the materials you use, the easer it will be to store and re-use year after year.

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