Green Options

One of the biggest challenges most people face is staying organized.  It’s also one of the biggest new year’s resolutions for those who resolve to start their new year off clutter-free.  But, for many, it’s an elusive process that either starts off strong and fizzles out, or seems so daunting a task that they don’t know where to begin.

Enter Krista Colvin, lifestyle expert, Founder of Organize in Style LLC and creator of The Shebang, The Smart Woman’s Guide to Doing It All, who sees your clutter as a canvas for crafting a well organized masterpiece that’s as eco-friendly as it is stylish.  Best of all, she offers practical solutions that are easy to implement — and maintain — and will save you precious hours to boot.  With Krista’s help, the only thing you’ll need to think about is what to do with all that extra time!

When choosing Christmas gifts for your eco-child, check out the extensive collection of DIY kits for children. Kids can benefit from creative construction–they develop their fine motor skills, their creativity, and their ability to follow written directions. Plus, it’s just downright fun to make stuff and the sense of accomplishment that comes from making an actual functional item is addictive (just ask crafters!). I focused on kits that had some kind of eco or environmental spin, and all are available online.

1. Glee Gum has three DIY kits featuring edible projects: chewing gum, chocolate, and gummies. The kits come with all the ingredients necessary to create these treats, along with information on how those items are produced. For example, how do chicleros gather chicle in the rainforest? Actually, it’s quite sustainable. But you can find all that information on the origins of our favorite sweets in these kits. $13 each.