How to Find Earth-Friendly Gifts. photo courtesy of the Pug Father

We all want to do our part to help the environment. A big part of that is buying products that are eco-friendly. Using our money to support earth-conscious companies is a great way to go green. While many products claim to be created with the earth in mind, how can you be sure? Here are some clues for telling if a gift is eco-friendly.

Look for Official Certification

If a lamp claims on its package to be energy efficient or certified look for proof. If it is in fact officially certified it will carry the energy efficient logo. Without that the claim could be false. Or if paper products claim to be made from recycled materials, somewhere on the package there should be an official statement or certification.

Beware of Vague Claims

A lot of products throw up green sounding phrases with hopes of luring you into a sale. If a product says it’s chemical-free, beware. Even water is a chemical, so being chemical free is virtually impossible. Other phrases commonly used to mislead consumers are non-toxic, all natural and green. Even certain poisons like arsenic and formaldehyde are all-natural.

Do Some Checking

Finding out if a product really is what it claims to be can be tough. But in the case of Energy Star rated products, it’s as easy as an online search. Head to the Energy Star website and look through their database of products that are officially Energy Star rated.

Support Green Companies

Each year Newsweek lists the top 500 green companies. Take a look at the list and do your best to support companies that are already doing a great job with this initiative. By using your money to buy green gifts for those you love, you’re showing the world that you care about the environment.

Countdown This Exciting Time! (Photo Courtesy of PinkMoose)

With so many expecting friends and family members, I’ve been looking for creative ways to help them countdown to this exciting day. With close friends you don’t necessarily want to wait until their baby shower to give them a gift celebrating the arrival of their new little one. So here are some unique ideas for counting down their due date with a gift.

Countdown Clock

The excited new parents can countdown the days, minutes and seconds until their son or daughter’s arrival with the countdown clock. After the baby’s arrival the clock can be used to display the current day and time. It can be used to countdown any date from now until the year 2049.

Magnetic Calendar

This magnetic calendar is made with a dry erase surface so it can be reused for future bundles of joy as well! It’s a 40-week pregnancy calendar that highlights some of the major milestones along the way.

Advent Calendar

This advent calendar features 40 doors and each week the expectant mom opens one of the doors to see what’s happening with her developing baby. This makes a great gift for moms who already have children so that they can get excited and learn about the new sibling’s arrival.

Pregnancy Countdown Book

New moms want to know what’s going on with their baby. The Pregnancy Countdown Book lets the stay informed every step of the way. They’ll know exactly what stage of development their baby is reaching each week.

Countdown Magnets

With the baby countdown magnets you’ll get a full set of 21 magnets so you can arrange the days or weeks until your baby’s arrival. The set comes in different color combinations so you can find one that fits your style. They’ll be able to display their countdown right on the fridge for everyone to see.

Perpetual Wooden Calendar

For a versatile gift, give them this perpetual wooden calendar. It can countdown baby’s arrival and then be used as a regular day-by-day calendar once the little one is born. It’s eco-friendly and well designed.

Give Homemade Spa Treatments (Photo courtesy of Fing'rs)

Lots of your friends and family members probably love the idea of indulging at a spa– but few have the time or money. Now you can give them the gift of relaxation with these DIY spa gifts. With a few simple ingredients packaged creatively in jars or plastic containers from a craft store, you’ll have a great gift ready to go.

Coffee Body Scrub

Don’t toss out those coffee grounds– put them to good use. Combine two cups of coffee grounds with a half cup of raw sugar or sea salt and a few tablespoons of massage oil for a lovely coffee body scrub that will wash away the dry skin winter leaves behind.

Bath Cookies

Check out SpaIndex.com’s most requested recipe– bath cookies! You’ll bake up something great for your friends and family members to use in their next bath. The recipe is pretty easy and includes many ingredients you probably already have in your fridge or pantry including sea salt, baking soda, cornstarch, oil, and eggs. Combine the ingredients, bake for ten minutes and you’ll have a gift that looks like you picked it up in a fancy spa!

Sugar Coconut Hand Renewal

Winter does a number on our hands often leaving them dry and cracked. Whip up this recipe from Health Magazine and give it away to those who may need a little pampering. The recipe is made up of ingredients like coconut oil, sugar, and lemon juice. Make sure your gift also includes a pair of cotton gloves like these from PrettyLikeMe.com so they can let your mixture work overnight.

At-Home French Manicure

Put together your own French manicure kit that includes cuticle cream, white and pink nail polish and a fancy nail file. Give it to someone who may not have the time or money for regular manicures, but deserves to look their best.

Fight Spring Fever With Gifts (Photo Courtesy of Robert S. Donovan)

Longing for warm weather, blooming flowers and plentiful sunshine? Just about everyone starts coming down with a case of spring fever right about now. The weather may not be cooperating outside, but you can certainly make it feel more like spring inside with some special gifts for family and friends.

House Plants

Nothing says spring like greenery. Bring more green to your friends and family by giving them some lovely houseplants. Check out SimplyPlanters.com for a wide range of indoor pots in just about every material you could want. A cheery bouquet of flowers works well too.

Coconut Bath Products

Few scents embody warm weather like coconut. Check out this coconut collection from Sephora. These body scrubs, body butters and bottles of bubble bath make a great gift for conquering spring fever.

Warm-Weather Reading

Books have a great ability to transport us to other places, times and worlds. Pick up some great books with warm-weather settings that will have your friends feeling like they’re leaving winter behind.

Fresh Accessories

Florals are hot for spring fashion. Give your loved one a little style that will kick start their spring wardrobe. Check out the Windswept Floral Skinny Scarf and the Turquoise Chip Headband available at Ann Taylor Loft.

Picnic Essentials

Let your friends and family think about warm weather activities like picnics outside. Gifts like the collapsible picnic basket from Crate and Barrel will let them do just that.

Garden Needs

They may not be able to plant their gardens quite yet, but at least your loved ones can prepare. Give them seeds, garden tools, and a fresh pair of gardening gloves so that when the weather does finally cooperate they can be ready to go.

Spring Pillows

Bring spring into their home and banish spring fever with a fresh throw pillow. Check out some new arrivals at West Elm including the Spring Lark Silk Pillow Cover. It comes in two lovely, light colors that will automatically offer a spark of spring into any room.

Package Your Food Gifts Creatively (Photo courtesy of Adie Reed)

Edible gifts are great– you don’t have to worry about whether they’ll fit or if you’re selecting the right color. I mean, who doesn’t like good food? Plus, edible gifts can be very affordable and thoughtful. But as with just about any gift, the package can make a big difference. Here are some ideas for creatively packaging edible gifts.

Jars

Mason jars may be great for jams or jellies, but what about for cupcakes? Julie at Joy’s Hope stacked two cupcakes in eight ounce mason jars, layering them with frosting. She topped it with a cupcake print fabric and ended up with a sweet gift. You could also fill your jars with layers of dry ingredients for muffins, cookies or bread. Or as the photo shows, bake pies in them.

Takeout Boxes

Continue the food theme into the packaging by using a takeout box. You can pick up a set of 12 for just $8.40 from FavorStudio.com. Choose between hot pink, turquoise, lime and almond. Or if you need something more heavy duty, check out the SafePak take-out boxes from The Container Store.

Mixing Bowls

Take something practical from the kitchen and turn it into a way to package your edible gift. Use a mixing bowl, decorative tray or even a coffee cup and make it part of your present.

DIY Cake Plate

Make the display part of the gift with a DIY cake plate. Back in December we gave you the simple step-by-step instructions for taking thrift store finds and making cute cake plates. Top them with cookies, chocolates or mini cakes and your edible gift is ready.

Creative Tags

Sometimes simple is better. You could easily package your yummy gift in a plain brown box or bag from a craft store, wrap it with baker’s twine and attach a cute gift tag like this one. Just load some card stock in your printer, make a copy and cut it out.

Recycle

You may be throwing packaging options into your recycle bin without even thinking about it. Mini loaves of bread can be cutely squeezed inside cleaned out tin cans. Or a coffee can may be a great way to store and transport your handmade treats. Just make sure you thoroughly wash out anything you decide to use.

Need a low-cost gift that’s big on personality? Whether you need something thoughtful to give your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day, an anniversary, birthday or any special occasion, custom art made by your two hands is a great gift. You don’t need to have any special artistic skills to complete this DIY art either. The only thing you’ll need are a few bucks worth of supplies.

Lay Out Your Letters on the Canvas

Step 1: Get Your Supplies

Your canvas for this project is going to be a cheap piece of underlayment from a hardware store. This will cost you about $6. Make sure you have it cut to the size you want at the hardware store to avoid extra work at home. You’ll also need some paint colors of your choice (any kind works) and a paint brush. Small bottles of paint from the craft store will work, or you could even use leftover wall paint stashed in your garage.

Step 2: Select a Quote

Pick a quote that will easily fit on your board. For our artwork we used Proverbs 25:11, A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. But you can choose a quote, song lyrics or poem that is meaningful to you and your special someone.

Step 3: Print Your Letters and Cut them Out

Choose a font and size and then print your letters. It’s best to choose a basic font that will be easy to cut out. We used Impact. Cutting out your letters may take a little while, but it’s a project you can complete while sitting on the couch.

Step 4: Prep Your Canvas

Choose Your Colors and Paint

This step is optional. You may want your letters to show the natural wood color, or you may want to paint the canvas. Either way your artwork will be lovely. We painted ours white.

Step 5: Tape On Your Letters

There are many ways to adhere your letters to the board, including just using regular tape. Stick them down well so that paint is less likely to seep underneath.

Step 6: Start Painting

This is where your creativity can really show. Select your colors and start painting. There are no real rules– just have fun! And if it doesn’t turn out the way you imagined, simply start over with more paint!

Step 7: Allow Paint to Dry

The Finished Product: DIY Custom Artwork

Make sure the paint dries completely before peeling away your letters. This will help the edges of your letters stay more crisp.

Step 8: Remove Letters and Hang

Start tearing away your letters. Don’t be alarmed if your paint leaked under them. This just adds to the artistic affect. Framing your custom artwork is definitely optional. The board works fine on its own, or you can add a frame to give it more of a finished, gallery look. Either way you’ve got a one-of-a-kind gift that your sweetheart will love.

Photos courtesy of Alison Storm

Show Your Front Door Some Love for Valentine's Day. photo courtesy of Alison Storm

Need to add a little Valentine’s Day love to your home? This project is easy (we’re talking done-in-less-than-five-minutes-easy) and affordable! The finished product is festive, flirty and fun! It’s perfect for adding spice to your home, or for giving away to someone you love. Here are the simple instructions from making  a feather boa wreath just in time for February 14th.

Gather Supplies

For this project you will need just a few key supplies. Pick up a foam wreath form at a craft store. You can pick them up for just a few dollars at CreateforLess.com. They even have heart-shaped foam forms which would be perfect for this project. You will also need about four feather boas. For our feather boa wreath we used two Pink Multi Luxe Boas from The House of Bachelorette and two Modern Marabou Boas in Hot Passion Pink. Finally, you will need some straight pushpins. You likely already have these somewhere around your house!

Start Wrapping

Securing one end of one of the thicker, Luxe boas to the back of your foam form with a pin, beginning wrapping the boa around the form. Leave a small gap in between the rows. You will fill this in later with the thinner Marabou boa. Space your layers so that you are able to make it half-way around your form with one Luxe boa. When you reach the end, secure it with a pin on what will be the back of you wreath. Continue this process with the second Luxe boa on the other half of your wreath.

Fill in the Gaps

Now that your entire foam form is covered with two Luxe boas, it’s time to fill in the gaps with the coordinating Marabou boa. Since the feathers are slightly different, this will add some visual interest to your feather boa wreath. Secure the Marabou boa in the same way, using a pushpin. Each Marabou boa should cover half of the wreath.

Hang and Enjoy

That’s all there is to this simple, but lovely project that will add some spice to your home for Valentine’s Day. The great thing about this project is that you can reuse all of the materials in other ways. Once February 14th passes, unpin your boas and use them for a bachelorette party or a girls’ night out. You can re-purpose your foam form and create a wreath for another upcoming holiday. Or, snatch up some black boas and create a fun wreath for Halloween.

Tired of giving chocolates, roses and teddy bears every February 14? Break out of the Valentine’s Day hum-drum and give your sweetie something truly original. Here’s a whole list of Valentine gift ideas that they won’t soon forget.

Cupcake of the Month

Sign your sweetheart up for the cupcake of the month club. It’s a gift that keeps on giving so there is no way they’ll forget how much you love them. Every month they’ll receive a yummy treat: two cupcakes in a jar from the Bangerang Bake Shop. And if you’re lucky maybe they’ll share one with you!

Love Print

Give your honey this “Love Candy” print and let them hang it prominently in your home. That way they’ll remember how much they are loved all year long– not just on V-Day.

Plant a Tree

Mark your growing love by planting a tree in your yard, your favorite park or somewhere special. Watch the tree grow over the years, just as your love grows.

Love Pencils

These lovely pencils from Olive Manna feature phrases like “Love is Patient & Kind” and “Love is Like the Morning Mist.” Pick up a set of three for just $4 and your special someone will think of you with every word they write.

Coupon Book

Get crafty and make your Valentine a coupon book. Make sure each coupon is something they will appreciate. Let them cash in a coupon each month for the next year.

The Five Love Languages

Pick up a copy of The Five Love Languages and give it to your Valentine. Don’t let the gift end there– commit to reading it together and figuring out what each of your love languages are. Then determine how you can speak your sweetie’s language of love.

Reasons I Love You Stones

Pick up a bag of stones from RedEnvelope.com. Each one is etched with a reason for your love. Messages include “I love you… for always getting my jokes” and “I love you…because you’re an inspiration.” Or you could use this idea as inspiration for making your own list of reasons you love your significant other.

An Unforgettable Experience

Shared experiences can help a couple draw closer together. Give your Valentine an experience they’ve always dreamed of like riding in a race car or floating in a hot air balloon. And make sure it’s something you can enjoy together.

Their Name in a Book

Well-known author Karen Kingsbury is giving fans a chance to be in her next book. Anyone who donates a minimum of $100 to the Kate McRae Fund can have their name or the name of someone they love acknowledged in the book where Kate will be a character. Not only will you be supporting this little girl’s battle with cancer, but you’ll be giving your Valentine a memorable gift.

Score Big With Guests During Your Super Bowl Party (Photo courtesy of Triple Tri)

Are you ready for some football? The big game– yep THE big game– is about to kick off. Amp up your team spirit and give your guests a great time with a fabulous Super Bowl bash. Whether you’re really into the game or you just like the commercials, you can still have a great time. Take your bash to the big leagues by improving your Super Bowl party food table with these easy and affordable ideas.

Field Centerpiece

Bring a little bit of the field to your table with this super cute centerpiece idea. Head to your florist for a flat of wheat grass. You should be able to pick this up for about $20 according to Hostess With the Mostess. Then place little plastic football players like these all over your field. You’ll definitely score some points for creativity!

Personalize Footballs

Give guests something to play with during half time. Pick up a dozen (or two) colorful foam footballs like these from Oriental Trading Company. Personalize them with a permanent marker or stickers.

Playing Field Tablecloth

Head to your fabric store for some green felt. You’ll need enough to cover the table you’re using to display your football food. Using white tape and vinyl numbers from the craft store, create your football field with yardage and lines.

Decorate Sweetly

Add a little sugar to your Super Bowl food table with some milk chocolate footballs. Candy Warehouse sells a 5-pound bag that your party goers will love to tackle.

AstroTurf Coasters

The editors of Real Simple Magazine came up with this one– AstroTurf coasters! Head to your carpet warehouse and ask for a small cutting of green AstroTurf. You may also be able to pick this up at Home Depot or Lowe’s. Carefully cut it into circles so guests can rest their glasses on the green.

Referee the Food Table

If you’re not into sporting team gear, why not throw on a referee shirt instead? You’ll be able to monitor which food dishes you’ve prepared are the ultimate winners and determine when to throw in a sub. This referee shirt also comes with a whistle in case a fight breaks out over your queso dip.

Send a Gift to Haiti (Photo Courtesy of Peta-de-Azatlan)

It’s hard to look at tragic images from the earthquake in Haiti and not want to do something to help. Normally we help you with gift giving to your friends and family members. This time we’re telling you how to give to complete strangers. Lives, homes and buildings were destroyed in a 7.0 magnitude earthquake and even though Haiti is thousands of miles away, you can still give survivors there the gift of hope through these organizations.

American Red Cross: During just about any disaster, the American Red Cross is on the scene to help. If you want to help the Red Cross, text the word “HAITI” to 90999 to make an instant $10 donation.

Compassion International: For more than four decades Compassion International has been working in Haiti. Compassion International matches donors with sponsor children and has helped more than 65,000 children and their families in Haiti. Your donation will be used to provide relief to those in Haiti.

Hope for Haiti: Bid on some great gifts like Valentine’s bags, gift certificates and handmade headbands through a project called Hope for Haiti. Started by some bloggers who wanted to help, they’ve created a way for you to help Haiti by getting involved in their auctions.

Yele Haiti: This is Wyclef Jean’s Foundation and works to establish small-scale manageable projects that benefit Haiti’s long-term future. Yele Haiti has set up an earthquake fund you can donate $5 to it by texting YELE to 501501.

GAIN-USA: The Global Aid Network is a multi-national network of ministries. They’re sending medical supplies, food and water to Haiti with the help of your donation.

Baptist Haiti Mission: Since 1943 the Baptist Haiti Mission has been serving this country. Their hospital in Fermathe is overflowing with victims needing treatment. Your donation will go directly to those who need it.

For Haiti with Love: This organization, For Haiti with Love, provides free medical care on the North Coast of Haiti. They’re expecting to serve more people and need help paying for additional medical supplies.

World Vision: The first round of relief supplies from World Vision touched the ground in Haiti shortly after the earthquake. Make sure there is plenty of money for additional supplies by making a donation.

Care USA: Care USA already had warehouses of supplies in Haiti that they are distributing. And they are rushing more supplies to the island now. With your help they’ll be able to deliver even more supplies.

Doctors Without Borders: In a matter of days Doctors Without Borders had already treated more than 1,000 people in Haiti. They are currently sending an inflatable hospital to the country and could use your help treating all of the people wounded and injured by the earthquake.

Of course, this is just a sample of the many organizations working to help those in Haiti. When you give your gifts to Haiti, make sure you do it safely and securely. Watch out for scams so that your gift can do the most good.