Happy (almost) Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers in the states. Whether this means sitting at a crowded family table while you fight with Aunt Mildred over your mom's famous stuffing, or simply enjoying Chinese take out with your sweetie, it's a time to relax and indulge. Personally, I am thankful for the many, many wonderful people in my life. I am thankful for my loyal blog readers. And I am thankful for my neighbors, who have already decorated their entire house in Christmas lights. I don't mind lights, but one holiday at a time people!

We'll be on a mini hiatus until Tuesday, December 1st. Until then, I've compiled a list of mainly random, but entertaining websites and articles. If you're working the skeleton crew over the holidays, then hopefully these will ease your pain!

Clay Hill Farm, a beautiful Maine venue and restaurant, is hosting an amazing green wedding giveaway. Contestants are asked to share their story in any form they wish (poem, painting, video, story, etc...), but don't take too long as all entries must be received by January 1st. Check out the Eco-Wedding blog of Dream Green Weddings for more info!

Fan of tofurkey? Grist samples four meatless turkeys and reports back the goods.

Play games right in your browser with OMGPOP

Love the Clueless Crafter's latest post: Elsa Maxwell's quotes for Thanksgiving

New York Magazine's Shop-O-Matic Bridesmaid's Dresses

Feeling sleepy? Want to listen to some calming music? Musicovery lets you play music based on your mood.

I have to admit, it took me a minute to get this one.

And last but not least, come join the facebook fan page of Earthly Affair, which is the company that this blog officially represents.

Plastic Vases - Fold 'Em Up and Pack 'Em Up

The plastic vases seem to be a new thing lately. I was a bit unsure about the plastic part of it, but they still have their benefits: they're infinitely reusable and it's a nice alternative to the standard glass vase, and in this economy it's more cost effective than some of the fancy glass vases available. Plus (and this is a major plus if you live in what is basically a large closet) they fold up flat for easy and compact storage! Perhaps a bit too informal for a wedding (although I can see them working quite nicely for a casual outdoor wedding with unique table linens), they would however provide a nice spot for flowers at a shower. The ones above have pretty cute designs. They make me feel a little ikea-ish, which I don't mean in a bad or good way, it's just the illustrations. Check 'em out at Jillable.

Healthy Monday: Thanksgiving Sides

Hope you had a wonderful weekend and are looking forward to a not-too-stressful Thanksgiving. If Thanksgiving and stress always go hand in hand for you, it's important to remember to keep up your nutrition during what is typically considered the beginning of Holiday madness. Stress can affect your immune system, so don't slack on getting your veggies and try to find at least 30 minutes for exercise. In charge of the menu this year? Try serving up some healthy side dishes, courtesy of Wholeliving.com. And if you're not in charge of the menu, well, then all I can say is good luck staying away from the delicious sweet potato souffle with the gooey marshmallows and crispy cinnamon... Excuse me while I wipe the drool off my mouth.

Clockwise: Roasted Winter Squash and Apple Soup, Green Beans with Golden Raisins, Hearty Garlic Greens, Cranberry Pear Sauce

All photos by MarthaStewart.com

Can you believe next week is Thanksgiving!? Before you know it, it will be Christmas, New Years... Boy, how time flies. Anyway, thank you to reader Jill for suggesting these recycled wool brooches for the Earth Friendly Weddings Blog! I think these would work well for a holiday party or a winter wedding. Available via Felt Sew Good

Have a great weekend everyone!

Eco-Friendly Flax Linens

Love these hand printed, eco-friendly flax linens from Celina Mancurti. The Flax plant is unique in that every part of the plant can be utilized, reducing waste. It is also fully biodegradable and recyclable.

Real Wedding: Colorful Fusion of Traditions at an Eco-Friendly Venue

Love this wedding Suthi from Picotte Photography sent over. This couple had their wedding at the California based, eco-friendly SmogShoppe, where they fused Korean and Western style traditions.

Eco-Friendly Fun: Wedding Garters

Today I have a special treat! Julianne Smith Wedding Garters offers up a fantastic line of charming and colorful ribbon garters, including an environmentally friendly selection. Julianne herself was kind enough to answer a few questions, which you'll find below. Hope you enjoy learning about her handmade garters as much as I did!

Your garters are adorable! Can you tell us more about them?
Thank you for the compliment! I personally design and hand make all of my wedding garters. I designed my collection to be simple, chic and stylish...just like brides today! My wedding garters are hand crafted from materials made in the United States. The environmentally friendly, green garter collection is made from recycled plastic bottles.



What inspired you to create an environmentally friendly collection of garters?

Being environmentally aware is personally important to me, so I wanted to be able to offer a green choice for brides. In the grand scheme of things, it is a small gesture to wear a green garter, but every little bit helps!

Are the garters handmade? How far in advance should someone order their garter?
All of my wedding garters are hand made by me. Orders generally take about two weeks, but I’ve certainly pulled off wedding garters faster than that for brides with rapidly approaching weddings.


Since you also do custom orders, do you have any special advice for clients looking to make their garter more personalized?

The wedding garter is hidden under the dress, so brides can feel free to take a risk and design a wedding garter that truly reflects their style and their personality. Are they polka dots? Animal prints? Classic and simple? I encourage brides to take some time after they become engaged to think about who they are and what they like before the start making wedding choices. If they go into their planning process with a strong sense of self, they are more likely to make choices that they will love forever. Your personality is never out of style!

And now for a wacky question: If you joined the circus, what act would you be most likely to perform?

Trapez for sure!

Healthy Monday: The Benefits to Cutting Back On Meat

As I am writing this post, I am starving. It's 12 pm on Saturday and I've got lunch on the brain. I came across this awesome recipe for vegetarian bolognese (scrap the beef and use lentils!) and to say I am craving a lentil packed pasta dish now would be an understatement. I thought I would take advantage of my hunger induced attitude to share with you the benefits of cutting back on meat. (And I know some of my readers are already vegetarians, so please feel free to add your 2 cents in the comments.)

First off, the health benefits are a plenty. According to MeatlessMonday.com, replacing meat with foods lower in saturated fats can reduce your chance of heart disease and keep your cholesterol low. It can also help you maintain a healthier weight and improve the overall quality of your diet.

Zucchini Cakes from EatBoutique.com

Secondly, there are environmental benefits to reducing your meat intake. MeatlessMonday.com writes, "United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization estimates the meat industry generates nearly one-fifth of the man-made greenhouse gas emissions that are accelerating climate change worldwide . . . far more than transportation." Another issue is the large amounts of water required by livestock. Cutting back on meat will allow us to minimize water usage, as well as cut back on fossil fuel dependence.

Now, I've tried the vegetarian route and honestly, I couldn't do it. But my husband and I do try to have meatless meals once or twice a week. It's not as daunting as you might think. Dawn Jackson Blatner has a great little article on how to ease the transition.

Black And White

I thought this was one of the most interesting bouquets I had seen in while. Not only is it made out of feathers, but it's black. Its eco-friendly value depends mostly on what the bride does with the bouquet after the wedding. But what do you think about the color? Does black belong at a wedding? These brides made it work.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend ahead of them!

Photography by Scott Andrew

Dessert Shaker

What if instead of a dessert bar, or even a cake, you had a milkshake counter? I'm not sure about the costs involved, but these cold concoctions sure look tasty! Found at Chow.com.

Chocolate Malted Milk Shake

Strawberry Shortcake

Grasshopper Milk Shake

Amaretto Sour Vegan Shake