All posts tagged: reuse

Top 5 Green Resolutions for 2016

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  Happy New Year! Goodbye 2015 and hello 2016! Just over a week into the new year and I am sure many of you are still going strong with your New Year’s Resolutions.  This year consider throwing a green resolution or two into the mix. Last year, the UN held their climate conference in Paris.  The biggest takeaway is that climate change is a global issue, it is real and it is a part of our reality.  Whether we like it or not, man does in fact contribute to climate change. However, there are simple things we can do in our lifestyle to help reduce our carbon footprint. This morning I had the pleasure of being on Daybreak 27 with Edlyn Ruiz.  To view my interview please check back for a special blog post or visit my Facebook Page. Here are my Top 5 Green Resolutions for 2016 Switch to Energy Efficient Bulbs Changing your light bulbs to energy efficient ones can help reduce not only your carbon footprint but your electricity bills. So, it …

How To Make Eco-Friendly Rustic Wine Glasses

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It’s been a while since I dived into a eco-chic DIY project.  My latest project involved upcycling peanut butter jars into rustic wine glasses.  Bonus: I have included my summer White Wine & Elderflower Sangria. Mason jars have been the latest trend, and often used at rustic weddings or rustic soirees and dinner parties.  Well, move over mason jars, because peanut butter jars are the new rustic eco-friendly glass on the dinner table.  Whilst, I love mason jars repurposed as a drinking glass, I thought why go out and buy them just to be eco-friendly and on trend, when I can easily repurpose peanut butter jars?  When living an eco-friendly lifestyle it is great to find creative ways to upcycle, recycle, reuse and repurpose items you already have.  Recycling glass jars is fantastic! However, you can also repurpose the jars into trendy eco-chic drinking glasses. It’s been one hot summer, so cool down with a refreshing glass of White Wine Sangria with Elderflower. Make Your Own Rustic Wine Glasses What you will need: Peanut Butter jars …

Secret Santa: Gifts Under $10

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This secret can’t be kept… For all of you who participate in the old tradition of the Secret Santa Gift Exchange, whether with your family, friends or coworkers consider picking up your Secret Santa present from the The Cayman Islands Humane Society Book Loft. I had a blast browsing the store for items that would make great gifts- everything is under $10. Most Secret Santa gift exchanges have a budget limit so this is a great place to go. Added bonus of Christmas cheer, all proceeds benefit the animals at the shelter. Checkout what items made the list. The Book Loft provides an array of gifts that make anyone’s eco friendly holiday gift guide.  All items were once loved by someone else, and now passed on to someone new to love them. Please support The Cayman Islands Humane Society Happy Shopping at the Book Loft! Merry Christmas! with love, from one animal lover to another, xo

Eco Mad hatter Hats

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                  Last weekend, The National Trust for the Cayman Islands hosted an awesome 5K Glow Run!! “Light up the night for a brighter future” In the spirit of this fundraising event one of my bestie’s and I joined in with other participants creating funky glow costumes.  We made “Mad Hatter Hats” which of course, had an environmental theme.  One was nature themed, the other ocean themed.  In addition, we added some glow accessories, funky shades, and faux/synthetic feathered boas (which can be recycled for other events). How to make Eco Mad Hatter Hats What you will need: Plastic black top hats (repurposed New Year’s Eve hats), cardboard, faux flowers, faux/synthetic feathers, toilet paper rolls, postcard, sea fan, glow in the dark stickers, glow paint (non-toxic), glue gun. “Dear Verdant Island” The Cayman Islands Blue Iguana was the mascot for this hat 🙂 Made out of cardboard, (repurposed pizza box). Written below the Blue Iguana, is lyrics from the Cayman Islands National Song “Dear Verdant Island.”  Some faux flowers …

Digital Dump: Creating an E-Wasteland

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  Living in the digital era, our lives have become deeply intertwined with technology.  If someone asked you to place one item in a time capsule that best describes your generation, what would it be? Probably, a smartphone, tablet, i-Pod, laptop, these are a few items that come to mind.  Each new generation is becoming more and more dependent on technology.  Our reliance on technology is at times worrying, for instance, think how some of us react when the  power goes out, there is an islandwide or citywide blackout, or our phone is left at home so we run back and get it, or our phone battery dies and we have no charger with us, or God forbid our internet crashes and we have a meltdown because we have temporally been disconnected from the social media bubbles we live in.  Sometimes, it seems we are reaching a state where we are constantly  plugged in, to social media, the internet, and communicating through every digital or technological channel made available to us.  Perhaps, what may be …

Sunday Dinner Wine Bottle Centerpiece

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In this house Sunday is family day, which entails brunch, a lovely dinner and scrabble games which turns into a battle royale.   For the centerpiece I reused wine bottles, glass water bottles, olive oil bottles and glass jars. Wine Bottle Vases Wine bottles can easily be repurposed into vases.  With bouquets of daisies, it looks simple and beautiful.  I choose to have different height levels for the bottles to give the overall look some dimension.  I got really lucky that the labels on the wine bottles matched my candles and table runner.  Olive Oil Bottles as Candlestick Holders Wine bottles can also be repurposed into candlestick holders.  I decided to keep it interesting, so I went with olive oil bottles, one tall and one short this allowed me to keep with adding different layers to the overall design. Glass Jars as Candle Holders When you finish a jar of peanut butter or jam, think of repurposing it to hold candles. Wishing you all a fantastic week! with love from one tree hugger to another, …