THAT'S A WRAP

Whipping yourself into a wrapping paper frenzy this holiday season? Losing yourself in all the tape, bows, boxes and ribbon? We suggest you switch from wasteful, disposable gift wrapping and transform your gifts with reusable and fashionable fabric gift bags from VZ Wraps. 

Pennsylvania-based Isabelle Vesey launched her VZ Wraps Etsy shop after the shock and awe of wasting so much wrapping paper one Christmas. TOO MUCH, she said! Now gift giving can be quick, easy and fun with her chic and cutesy eco-friendly reusable cotton gift bags.

VZ Wraps' gift packaging is for all occasions and comes in a few different shapes and sizes. From wine bags...

to gift card bags…

wedding gifts…

birthday presents...

or Hannakuh and Christmas gifts...

...VZ Wraps has a finishing touch for every gift-giving occassion! And in celebration of the well-to-do holiday giveaway, Isabelle has offered these three reusable holiday wine bags: holly scroll, green scroll and gold scroll. Perfect packaging for the perfect gift...

Planning on giving the gift of wine this holiday season? "Like" our status on Facebook plus fan VZ Wraps => you'll be entered to WIN. Want TWO extra entries? Tell us your favorite wine to gift for the holidays. Contest is open until midnight of November 23rd. THREE random, lucky winners will be selected the morning of Wednesday, November 24th!!!


Not on Facebook? Then tell us why you'd like these wine bags or what your favorite wine is to gift for the holidays.

VZ Wraps: Making every gift look better!

xx well-to-do

Images courtesy of VZ Wraps

WASTE-FREE IS 4 ME

When it comes to making earth-conscious decisions on what you consume and what you conserve, what you pack your child's lunch in - and with - can make a big impact. Especially if you consider the amount of waste that can be produced by one child's lunch.

Making the switch to a waste-free lunch is simple since just about anything you need to pack a lunch is in reusable format. Reusable lunch bags such as LunchBots come in a variety of styles and motifs from lined cloth to PVC-free versions making it easy to find one, two or ten that fit your needs.

Beyond the bag, the accessories and containers usually used within are also offered in waste-free versions. Instead of using plastic baggies, opt for reusable snack bags or sandwich pouches. Washable in the dishwasher or laundry, these bags offer the same wrapping power as plastic but come in fun patterns and colors you and your kids will love.

Trendy options include ReUsies, Kids Konserve and LunchSkins, but we at well-to-do like to shop local. Which is why we heart Maine-based Reuse Zone. Says its owner, Jess, "We each have our own passions and mine is being as friendly to our Earth as I can. All of my products are designed to be reused or have been repurposed - something made from something else. Keeping junk out of the landfills and using earth friendly products is easy when you reuse and repurpose!" 

Reuse Zone's oversized snack bags cost $5; sandwich bags are $6.

Engaging your children in conserving resources, teaching them to produce less waste and helping them learn about how each person impacts the environment is a lunch-time lesson that will last a lifetime!

To celebrate the first days of school well-to-do is giving away TWO chic oversized snack bags (pictured above). Tell us what your favorite snack is (for you or your kids) by commenting below or on Facebook and we will announce the random, lucky winner on Monday.

Visit Reuse Zone for a back-to-school special now through September 12th: buy 4 single bags and get 1 single bag free!

For more information, ideas and tips on reducing lunch waste, visit wastefreelunches.org.

xx S+S

Photo: Suz

Sources: Reuse Zone, wastefreelunches.org

TOY STORY

Keeping Suz's son's remote control Sand Stormer (truck) and battery-powered gadgets in working order is sucking her expense account at Fairmount Hardware dry. At the rate she goes through AAs, she could have a controlling stake in Energizer. Keeping Sarah's husband away from video gaming post-work is practically a part-time job. At the rate she tunes into Rock Band, she could be the next American Idol.

Imagine our relief when we heard all we needed was a recycling bin and a few household items to keep our "kids" (back-to-school or not) creative, crafty, and clever. In her book Make These Toys: 101 Clever Creations Using Everyday Items, Heather Swain offers dozens of simple how-tos for making magic out of household materials, including rubber-band shoe-box guitars, milk carton sailboats, and puppets that roll on thread spoons.

Says Swain, Make These Toys is "perfect for parents and teachers. These projects enable families to spend less while keeping entertained. Because fun doesn't always have to come in a box-sometimes, it's the box itself."

Other reasons to love Make These Toys:
1) Making toys saves money
2) Making toys conserves resources
3) Making toys means fewer toxins in your home
4) Making toys is entertaining
5) Making toys makes kids happy = what playing is all about

Brilliantly simple and fun. $13.95... and no batteries required.

xx S+S

Today's give-a-way has been moved to next Friday due to reorganization!

Photo: amazon.com
Sources: amazon.com, heatherswain.com

BABY GOT BACKPACK

It’s that time of year again. Summer is coming to an end, and school will be back in session before we know it. We've gathered together a list of eco-friendly school supplies to get your pre-schoolers to high-schoolers back to school in style, all the while being kind to our planet.

Backpacks: Avoid backpacks made of nylon or new plastics, especially PVC (vinyl), and look instead for bags made from recycled materials or natural materials, such as hemp (pictured here). EcoBodyWear has great hemp options, while Simple Shoes offers bags with eco-friendly features such as recycled PET straps and coconut buttons.

Notebooks: One free way to be kind to the earth and your wallet is to dig out those old notebooks from last year, and carry over any unused paper to this year’s folders and notebooks. When new paper is needed, choose recycled paper made from post-consumer waste, the market for which prevents used paper from going into landfills. Staples and Office Max both offer recycled paper and notebooks, or try EcoJot’s stylin' notebooks, made from 100 percent post-consumer waste and vegetable-based dyes.

Pens and Pencils: Mechanical pencils are a good choice, since they can be reused, but tree-free pencils are the eco-friendly option. Look for disposables made from recycled materials, such as old denim or newsprint. For pens, refillable ones are a better choice since they produce less waste, but many options exist for disposable pens, as well. Look for pens that have been made from recycled materials. Big brand Pilot has gotten in on the act with their BeGreen line of pens, made from recycled materials.

Lunch Boxes: Hold the brown bag. If possible, pack your school lunches in reusable bags with reusable containers. Try Kids Konserve for all-in-one options.

Back to school can be fun, fashionable and friendly-for-Earth! Let us know your favorite school supplies or any other tips that you and your kids are using this year. And stayed tuned this week for more reusable lunch/snack options and a fabulous back to school give-a-way!

xx S+S

THREE CHEERS FOR clinQs!

Cheers! Salud! Skål! Sláinte! À votre santé! No matter how you say it, raising a glass means there's something to celebrate. We're all for drinking to health and wellness. Especially when it involves champagne (Sarah) and PBR (Suz).

Today we toast the oh-so-fabulous Jenn Khavari, Mainer and brainsister of clinQs (rhymes with clinks), the reusable drink identifying stickers. Following a few too many dinner parties and a few too many neglected cocktails, Jenn and her sister Jeila stirred up clinQs to avoid future beverage mix-ups, stop the spread of germs, reduce party waste and designate drinks in a smart and stylish way.

Not only are clinQs reusable they're also sturdy. The cleaning instructions are simple if they get dirty: use warm, soapy water. The stickers can even be washed directly on a glass and then reapplied to the holding card for storage, and used over... and over... and over again.

Don't let us intimidate you. ClinQs are not only for the sophisticated but for parents and kids, too. Use the stickers on sippy cups or juice boxes to set personal boundaries and encourage pretend play. For example: "I'm a cupcake, what are you?"

Sold online at clinQs.com, select iParty stores and locally at Bangor Wine & Cheese for $5.50 a package, we'll leave it to you to decide how you want to make your social statement.

Care to try clinQs for FREE? Win a package of the Summer Time stickers by becoming our friend on Facebook or following us on BlogSpot! Make a comment on our post about how you might use your clinQs or what your favorite post has been so far and your name will be entered twice in the drawing! Giveaway is now closed.

Well-to-do and generous. Stick with us 'cause we'll take care of you!

Cheers to that. Cheers to clinQs!

xx S + S

Photo: clinqs.com
Sources: clinqs.com, dinner parties, fundraisers, unsuccessful play dates and sibling rivalry