Eco Friendly Mothers Day Gifts for the Mother of the Bride

Being the Mother of the Bride is no small task.  Show your mom you appreciate her hard work and want to make the planning process as easy for her as possible with a thoughtful and appropriate Mother’s Day Gift.  My top pick for this year’s Mother’s Day gift from brides is The Everything Mother of the Bride Book by our own lovely Katie Martin.  Nothing will better express your gratitude for her involvement in your wedding than this must-have guide on how to get through the wedding preparations without going crazy

There’s a reason that flowers remain one of the top gifts for moms year after year on Mother’s Day…what woman doesn’t absolutely love them?  Freshen up her home with organically grown flowers from either a local farm, florist or online through Organic Bouquet.  For that extra boost of eco-goodness, go with seasonal flowers that are grown as close to your hometown as possible.

If you’re a young bride, you might not consider that one of mom’s top sources of stress each year is aging.  Help her find her own fountain of youth the natural way.  Consider revitalizing beauty care products that are made with all natural, organic ingredients and are ranked well on the Skin Deep Database.  My favorite source for safe, all-natural beauty products is Mint & Berry.  The Pomega5 Revitalizing skin treatment will hydrate and renew her skin overnight…it’s the perfect at-home makeover tool.

Some of the best gifts for moms are the ones we’d buy for ourselves.  Practical and sustainable, I adore this recycled glass bowl by Vidreco, found at Green With Glamour.  It’s modern, dishwasher safe and the perfect accessory to her dining room or coffee table.  Fill with your favorite organic candy, organic dried flower petals or genuine sea glass for a finishing touch.

Jewelry continues to be one of the most popular ways to express thankfulness on Mother’s Day.  The only question is whether her bling will have a positive impact or contribute to destructive mining and social injustices.  Consider a gift that comes with a story of treating workers with dignity and sparing the planet of unnecessary harm with eco friendly jewelry.  Choose jewelry made with vintage, Fair Trade or sustainable materials, like this “Mom” pendant and charm from Green Diva, crafted of recycled silver and Fair Trade Tagua Nut.  Both the charm and the pendant are attachable and can be added to the chain of her choice.

Guest Blogger:  Katherine DalPra, Green Diva eco friendly jewelry

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Everything’s Coming Up Roses

Spring has sprung, the sun is out, the birds are singing, and with it comes the irresistible urge to adorn yourself with blooms. In fact, you can’t picture yourself on your wedding day without them! Add some eco-fabulous flowers to your look with necklaces of vintage materials, hair pins of fair trade fabric, or a knitted scarfelett of organic bamboo and wool.

image credits clockwise from upper left:

Hatastic

Tickled Pink Knits

A Alicia Handmade Accesories

Cultivar

Florabond

Stella Pesci

Florabond

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Dream A BIG Dream For Me: Another Wedding Myth Kicked to the Curb

Thank Heaven for Little Girls

Today I thought I’d talk about something we tend to brush under the rug. Or maybe we just outright ignore it. It’s the myth that all women have been obsessing over their weddings since the time they were little girls. Is it just me or am I the only one who never really thought about it all that much until I got engaged? This whole idea just bugs me because of the layers of presumption caught up inside of the idea. First of all, didn’t we have so many other dreams that were bigger, bolder, and more brazen than simply imagining the day we would walk down the aisle? I’ll tell you a little secret: even the doyenne of domesticity herself thinks the over the top weddings are pretty lame. I actually heard her say this about one such occasion. As we hobble our way toward economic recovery, let’s not forget the lessons we have learned lately about the pitfalls of spending more than we have, wanting more than we need, and caring about the world less than we should.

Xo.

Emily

Emily Anderson

Author*Designer*Creative Consultant

NYC

www.emilyanderson.com

www.goodwithstyle.com

www.ecochichomebook.com

My NEW BOOK is now available and you can buy an autographed copy from me…CLICK TO PURCHASE.

PLEASE NOTE: $1.00 from every book sale will be donated to Doctors Without Borders/For the benefit of Haiti.

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Saying Yes to the Dress

For the past week, including Earth Day, I have been on the Oregon Coast spending quality time with my grandmother.  Being able to out here to enjoy the beautifyl views of the ocean and all the parks helps to remind me why I try to do my part and be a little greener every day. 

 

As for advances in wedding planning, I have my dress ordered.  It definitely took a while to decide between the 2 dresses.  But I finally made up my mind.  I threw sophistication out the window and went for playful and fun.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s still absolutely beautiful.  I just did not want to have to worry about what slip I needed to wear or seeing lines in my wedding pictures.  Plus, there will be enough to worry about on the Big Day.

The dress shop also ordered me an extra swatch of the dress fabric so I can make a fabric flower to go with the dress.  I will put it in place of the buttons on the front and have the buttons moved to the back.

There is such a relief each time I check a box off the list of To-Dos!

~Brianne (No Jed this week!)

 (engaged weekly guest bloggers)

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{Bridal Market Recap} Adele Wechsler Fall 2010 Collection

There was something undeniably magical about  the draping, detailing and styles of  eco-couture designer,  Adele Wechsler‘s  Fall 2010 collection. This season’s inspiration was the metamorphosis of a butterfly, from simple caterpillar to a brilliant, delicate butterfly. I found this inspiration entirely appropriate given the materials Adele Wechsler uses and how she seamlessly transforms organic hemp and silk blends into glowing pieces of wearable art.

The most buzz-worthy gown (which happened to be a personal favorite) was the ‘Mother Nature’ gown, which was designed for the Ritz Carlton. Layers of petals made of silk organza, hemp and silk,  fall to create a silhouette perfect for an Earth Princess Bride! In the essence of being environmentally conscious, I saw multiple convertible pieces that can be worn as separates or  mixed & matched together. The use of rose bud details and interesting draping techniques were also a common thread throughout the collection.

Also worth mentioning is Adele Wechsler‘s partnership with Aveda Salons for the months of April through June in hosting a series of regional events to provide brides with eco-chic beauty tips and previews of the new collection!

If you are a eco-fashionista bride looking for a way to be eco-friendly and fabulous on your wedding day, then Adele Wechsler is your go-to, dream designer. All ECO Couture collections are made of organic hemp/silk blends, vegetable dyed silks, remnant lace and fabrics, fair trade labor, hand cut with hand sewn details, organic design elements and are manufactured in Canada. This is a must-see collection for Fall 2010.

Cheers!

Persephone Efessiou

POLISHED Image & Style

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