Ok, so Father’s Day is around the corner and you probably want to get or do something special for that eco-conscious father of yours.  With a little creative thinking you can come up with something that isn’t run of the mill and doesn’t involve buying some kind of plastic gadget that will likely get lost all too soon in the ‘plastic gadget drawer’.  Here are 3 simple ideas to help you create a thoughtful gift from scratch.  With a little effort you can make a sweet impression on dad, without leaving a carbon footprint impression on the earth.

Love Pebble Pouch

Take a handful of smooth pebbles and a small container of craft paint.  On each pebble paint a positive word such as love, peace, strong etc; or a symbol such as the sun or a heart.  Let the paint dry and then place them in a small pouch (which you can make from scratch if you are super creative).  Let your dad know that each of the pebbles represents a quality that you see in him.  He can keep the pouch on his desk and pick out a pebble whenever he needs to be reminded of how cool he really is – it’s certain to brighten up his day!

Unexpected Surprise

How about cleaning out your dad’s car without being asked.  There’s nothing nicer than climbing into a freshly vacuumed and shiny car.  Be sure to use biodegradable soaps, such as Dr Bronner’s Castile soap, for washing the dashboard and the door handles etc.  Finish it off with a home made ‘air-freshener’ with a special message that is scented with pure plant essential oils.  Simply cut out a piece of recycled card, draw your picture or message onto it and add a hanging string.  Add a few drops of essential oil, such as peppermint, and hang it from the mirror.   Non toxic and fresh – it will be sure to uplift him when he goes for a drive!

Now it’s a Paperweight, Now it’s a Door-stop

Painting rocks is so much fun – and they can be surprisingly useful!  Find a nice sized, smooth rock that is weighty but not too heavy.  Paint on it something that you know will make dad smile.  Remember to sign it and write the year that you made it for him.  Now, on a breezy day, he will have something to keep his papers from flying about or stop the door from slamming.  Simple and sweet.

Put your creative hat on and have fun.  Parents love to get things that have been made from scratch - they can feel the love you put into it.  Oh and don’t forget to make a homemade card too – there’s no better way to give a loving message.

By Sahaja Douglass

Mother’s Day is around the bend, and there are countless ads showing mothers of all shapes, sizes and colors being lathered, lubricated, dined, wined and massaged. A cornucopia of pleasures for everyone, but what about mothers whose children are still inside them? I haven’t seen any ads depicting pregnant women reclining in a spa chaise.

So what can we do to honor the newest mothers, the ones who are already symbiotically nurturing their wee-ones-within? What do new mothers want most?

Most pregnant women want assurance that everything is going to be okay during their pregnancy, birth and after their baby is born. Typical concerns focus on health, finances, lack of sleep, inevitable changes in relationships and their ability to nurture adequately.  While, there are no true assurances in life, I did think of a fun and fabulous gift that can assuage some of her worries. Assembling the gift requires imagination, love, generosity, an empty jar and a hefty supply of glue, feathers, shells, leaves, confetti or any other decorations (you get extra points if the crafty materials are sustainable and non-toxic).

Get Crafty!

1.  Cut out hearts from colored paper.

2.  Write one offering or affirmation on each heart. For example:

“1 organic home cooked meal” “1/2 hour foot massage” “bubble bath” “weekly grocery shopping” “Laundry duty” “your baby chose you” “I love you” “1 hug” “ you were born to birth,” etc.

3.  Decorate the jar.

4.  Put the hearts with offerings and affirmations into the jar and add some feathers or leaves, so when she opens the jar, it is oozing love and whimsy.

5.  Any time she wants, she can pull out a heart from her sacred jar and redeem the offering.

There are no rules to what goes into the jar, or how many people contribute hearts. If there are any restrictions (i.e. laundry heart can only be redeemed on weekends) then they can be written on the heart or an accompanying card.

If you are not in a crafty mood, buy:

EarthMama AngelBaby Organics “Mother of All Pregnancy Gift Basket,”containing the highest quality organic products for all the stages of pregnancy, labor, childbirth and beyond, and packaged in a pink keepsake heart colander. (This company is inspiring and their website has resources galore, including a free birth plan that you create from a list of choices, and then print out in minutes - now that’s as much reassurance as you can get). www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/