Going Bananas

Hi everyone. I promise to be back in the New Year with more posts, but right now the blog is taking a back seat because I have so much I have to get done by January. It will eventually make it's way back to the front seat and I promise to be back that first week of 2011 with more fresh ideas, posts, and goodies for eco-friendly invitations. In the meantime, don't forget about your local Toys for Tots organization when doing your holiday shopping. They are one of my favorite charities!

Holiday Gift Idea + Product Review: Soda Stream Sparkling Natural

I have a love of soda (which I've written about before), but I don't drink too much of it due to the fact that it probably burns your insides or something (Kidding! Don't sue me soda companies!). So when I received an offer to review the full line of Soda Stream Sparkling Naturals, as well as a machine to use them with, I couldn't resist.

photography by my awesome husband, Jeff Stambolsky

Let me preface by saying that I was skeptical. I mean, the product has its eco-friendly merits, which I get into below, but I thought, "So you can make soda or sparkling water... Whoop-dee-freakin-doo." Once it arrived though, set up was super easy. I chose the Fountain Jet machine as it seemed to be the most affordable and popular one. I filled the bottle up (not over the fill line though!), chilled it in the fridge, and then placed it in the soda stream machine. The instructions explicitly said you have to push the top button until it buzzes. The trick is you have to push firmly (i.e. no wimpy girl pushes) and only for about a second. After about three FIRM pushes, you'll hear a buzz. Three buzzes gives you normal, average fizziness. You mix the water with your desired flavor and voila! Not only did it give me some pretty tasty flavored sparkling water, but it was fun! Seriously!


They have four flavors available and I'll list them in order of best tasting to worst tasting in my opinion: Orange Pineapple, Lemon Lime, Pink Grapefruit, and Apple Mango. They really are very natural, containing for the most part natural flavors and citric acid. The flavor is very light with just a hint of sweetness. I also got to try the Flavor Essences, which you add a drop or two to your sparkling water to provide just a hint of flavor.

amazing hand model and assistant, my stepmom, Lynelle L.

It has it's eco-friendly merits. In a nutshell, here is what I found: You really do cut back on waste by not having to buy bottles and cans of sparkling water or soda. In the long run, this also saves you money, especially if you like that expensive Perrier. The water bottles that it comes with are recyclable, but they should be good for 3 years before they need to be replaced. The sodamix bottle is a number one and should be recyclable nearly anywhere, but the cap is a number five, which might limit some people's ability to recycle it. The carbonator can be sent back to Soda Stream where they clean it, inspect it, and refill it, essentially eliminating most direct waste there.



Overall, this would be a great holiday gift for the family and it's something everyone can enjoy! My husband and I continue to enjoy it and we look forward to possibly trying a Splenda free cola flavor in the future (EDIT: there is no Splenda in the cola and it's free of high fructose corn syrup.). Available at many online retailers, including Bed Bath & Beyond (hey, gotta take advantage of those 20% off coupons, right?)

{Re-Post} Healthy Monday: Environmentally Friendly Lights and Candles

You all have been so kind letting me know that you love my healthy Monday re-posts. As mentioned in my previous post, I've been workin' lots getting a new Earthly Affair website prepared, so sometimes the blog takes a back seat. But did you know I have over 850 posts written so far? Holy crapoh-li! So today, I'm cheating again and giving you another re-post. From last December, enjoy this eco-friendly lights and candles post.

Maybe it's because winter is (usually) cold, the nights are long, and the weather can be icky, but there is something about the holidays that begs for candlelit mantles and dinner tables. The ambiance they provide invites you into a world of cozy comfortableness. But while those "peppermint cookie" and "pumpkin pie" candles may be tempting (not to eat silly), make sure to pay attention to what they are made of. Paraffin candles, which is a petroleum byproduct, have been linked to health problems according to the American Chemical Society and to a decrease in indoor air quality.

There are eco-friendly solutions though. Pure beeswax candles are the least polluting choice. They usually last longer than paraffin candles and they smoke less too. Above: Beehive Candles. Note: If you prefer scented candles, Planet Green advises choosing ones with pure essential oils rather than synthetic fragrances.



Another favorite is the soy candle, made from soybeans (a renewable resource) and burns less soot than paraffin candles. They have a lower melting point also lending to a longer burning time. Above: Covington Creek Candle Company


Although a bit un-traditional, LED candles are a great eco-alternative. They may not produce any heat, but they have the benefit of being reusable year after year. Above: Smart Candle

Source: Planet Green
Top Photo: Real Simple

Saturday's Question: Your Eco-Friendly Holiday Wrapping Solutions

I've been loving the feedback so far on the "Saturday's Questions." Thank you for taking the time to leave your own comments and input.

Have you ever used newspaper, magazine tear outs, or old fabric remnants to wrap your gifts? What's your favorite eco-friendly holiday wrapping solution?


Want to ask our readers a question about wedding or eco etiquette? E-mail your question to jns721@gmail.com, as well as a link to your blog or website (if you like), and we'll post it!

MIA...again

Sorry for the lack of a post yesterday. Earlier this week it was brought to my attention that the order form on Earthly Affair isn't working, which really, really sucks. And ultimately it's not going to get fixed, because I've been devoting a good portion of my time and energy to a new Earthly Affair website. I am SO EXCITED (so excited that I put it in pink and in bold hehe!) and I can't wait to share it with you, but it won't be ready until January. So between that, taking care of my 4 month old, and not getting much sleep, I am exhausted. Come January, I hope you'll buy invitations from me out of pity. Hehe, I'm kidding! :)


A little sneak peak of the new website is above, but if you're a bride or party host looking for invitations, make sure to check back closer to the New Year as I'll be giving out discounts and prizes on this blog only to celebrate the grand opening. Oh, and Happy Happy Hanukkah! I'll be back Monday with a cool new holiday gift idea!