Green Lily Events

OMG. Organize + Russel&Hazel = Eco- Chic August 14, 2008

I received this wonderful tip via Jennifer from Earth Friendly Weddings and all I can say is thank you thank you thank you! I don’t like wasting paper and since I would say my techie google skills are not too shabby my favorite way of organizing myself is electronically through google reader, notebook, and documents. As a planner this works for me, but a bride needs something more. This was just the thing that I was searching for… at Green Lily Events we offer an organize yourself consulting package and I was on the prowl for a wedding notebook like the one provided by Russel & Hazel. This is what they have to say on their website,

When you pick up a russell+hazel binder, it’s clear: our passion for design is more than skin deep. Every detail is carefully considered. This goes for how our products are used – and just as importantly, how they impact our environment. Everything we make starts as 100% post-consumer recycled content, from the spirals in our notebooks to the covers of our binders. Because every piece is biodegradable, the paper, metal, Davey board and linen breaks down safely after it’s discarded. Clean goes in. Clean comes out. It’s that simple.

Phew Its good to know we have an alternative that is not only stylish, but easy on the planet.

Simply {Eco}Logical. August 13, 2008

Do you ever forget your half full nalgene lying around a little too long? when you remember and take a sip of it you get this funky plasticy taste? I think I found the solution to your problem in these nifty SIGG bottles made out of aluminum.

I first found these bottles via a post from Miss Canary on Weddingbee and was so impressed.The thing that makes these bottles so great is that they promise not to leach any icky chemicals into your water which in turn is simply healthier. Not only do they NOT alter the taste of water, but they are also lightweight and offer a plethora of cool designs to choose from. Bet you can’t guess my favorite?

At 20 dollars a pop they might be too pricy to hand out to all your wedding guests, but I still think they would make fabulous gifts for your bridal party.

you can find these at any REI and Whole Foods Market.

Bliss Candles August 11, 2008

I wasn’t kidding when I said I was an etsy addict. Seriously… Hello my Name is Michelle and I’m addicted to etsy.com. You will probably see etsy sellers mentioned a lot here so brace yourselves. I found Bliss Soy Candles through one of my personal blogs http://crueltyfreeetsy.blogspot.com/. Bliss candles has a plethora of yummy scents. So much better for you too! All natural, cotton wicks, and longer burning time it just makes sense you would want to avoid those icky petroleum based candles that cause all that soot on your ceiling and cause you more money in the long run. For what you get I think these are priced accordingly (I checked yankee candle co and they offer smaller candles for a greater price). I think these would make great wedding favors. They come in a variety of sizes, but my favorite are the ones pictured here because they are poured into recycled mayo and jam jars. check out the store at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5098894.

I don’t think your ready for this jelly.

Oh Melissa shoes how I heart thee. Let me count the ways… you are not only chic and stylish- you are also sustainable. You little shoe prove that being eco chic does not mean sacrificing style. Melissa shoes are the Brazilian based company that are keeping it totally green. These shoes are 100% recyclable and made from plastic!!! Their jelly like texture makes them super comfy and the fact they are void of animal products makes them perfect for my vegan brides. Melissa shoes takes it an extra step by recycling 99.9% of their waste, recycling overstock, and giving back to the Brazilian community through social and environmental programs. Melissa shoes gets my green star of approval. oh, and they smell like bubblegum. Bonus!!

To check out more styles and get more details on the process of the shoe making go to:

http://www.melissaplasticdreams.com/us

Now if only I can find where to buy you where your not sold out in my size…. If anyone knows where I can buy these shoes please let me know in the comments below! oh and I’m a size 5… um yeah, tiny!

Thanks EAD! August 10, 2008

I love Elizabeth Anne Designs… no let me rephrase that.I [HEART] Elizabeth Anne Designs! A shout out to all my girls at EAD and many thanks for linking us to the new EAD library full of great wedding vendors recommended and reviewed by brides and wedding specialists. If you have worked with us hop on over and leave us some love!

First order of business…

Hi guys! I want to introduce myself… my name is Michelle, I am semi new to Green Lily Events. My role is to research, live and breathe anything related to making a wedding more sustainable and earth friendly. I can literally spend HOURS pouring over my favorite wedding blogs and green blogs searching for the next best thing [good to know those last 6 months of idling over my favorite blogs instead of paying attention in class has not been in vain ;)]. As an event coordinator my specialty has become eco chic weddings. However, I am known to sneakily and creatively insert organic touches into the weddings of our not so green brides. No worries I’m an eco loving gal, but I am not an eco nazi. Since reading wedding and green blogs has become my obsession I have decided to take a swing at the green lily blog. So expect to see more of me here! A few things about me… I am passionate about the environment, I love all things pretty and vintage, I enjoy spending my time shopping at farmers markets, and I am a complete etsy addict [seriously I can go broke there]. 

Just a couple of updates: we have a gorgeously green wedding coming up on the 24th of August and the Go Green with the Knot Houston party on the 28th of August.  Keep a look out for the wedding pics real soon! and if your from Texas the regional knot magazine. 

Eco-weddings in whatever shade of green you are comfortable with! June 16, 2008

Whether you want a traditional elegant wedding or a simple laid back wedding, there are many things you can do to make it green. Check out this CNN newsclip on green weddings!

- Liz

Green Lily’s Website is Officially Green… June 10, 2008

As Houston’s premier green event planners, Jessica and I do our best to be as green as possible both at home and at work….so, we are proud to announce that Green Lily Event’s website is officially green. We have switched our web hosting provider to DreamHost.

DreamHost has calculated the impact they have on the environment and in turn does whatever they need to ensure they are carbon neutral. For full details on DreamHost’s green initiatives, please visit http://dreamhost.com/aboutus-green.html .

Pretty cool, don’t ya think???

- Liz

Celebrate World Environment Day Today!!!! June 5, 2008

We are all aware of Earth day celebrated every April, but many of us are not aware of World Environment Day, so Jessica and I thought we’d share the news with you!

World Environment Day was set by the United Nations in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. World Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5th.

For 80 Ways to Celebrate World Environment Day, check out the link below:

http://www.unep.org/wed/2008/english/Information_Material/Alphabet.asp

For additional information on World Environment Day, check out their website:

http://www.unep.org/wed/2008/english/

Happy World Environment Day!!!!!

- Liz

Fast Facts… June 4, 2008

While doing my daily web browsing, I came across some interesting facts that I want to share with you all. If you keep these in the back of your mind throughout the day, you can make a difference…remember….the smallest change can have the biggest impact!

• Keep your head out of the refrigerator and the door closed! The refrigerator is the single biggest energy-consuming kitchen appliance, and opening the refrigerator door accounts for between $30 and $60 of a typical family’s electricity bill each year. The amount of energy saved in a year by more efficient refrigerator usage could be enough to light every house in the United States for more than four and a half months straight. (Source: The Green Book)
• If every American replaced just one light bulb with an Energy Star compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), the energy saved could light more than 2.5 million homes for a year. (Source: Energystar.gov)
  
• Microwaves are between 3.5 and 4.8 times more energy efficient than traditional electric ovens. If it costs ten cents to cook one item in a microwave, it would cost forty-eight cents to cook the same item in a standard oven. If everyone in North America cooked exclusively with a microwave for a year, we’d save as much energy as the entire continent of Africa consumes during that same time. (Source: The Green Book)
• If every household in the United States replaced just one package of virgin fiber napkins with 100% recycled ones, we could save 1 million trees. (Source: NRDC)
  
• Americans spend an average of 90% of their time indoors, where indoor air is often 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air. (Source: EPA/USGBC)
• A family of four using low-flow showerheads instead of full-flow models can save about 20,000 gallons of water per year. (Source: NRDC)
  
• Half of the forests that originally covered 48% of the Earth’s land surface are gone. Only 1/5th of the Earth’s original forests remain pristine and undisturbed. (Source: NRDC)
• Though Americans make up just 4% of the world’s population, we produce 25% of the carbon dioxide pollution from fossil-fuel burning — more than China, India and Japan combined, and by far the largest share of any country. (Source: NRDC)
• 55% of our trash goes to landfills, 14% is burned, and 31% is recycled. (Source: Energy Information Administration)

- Liz