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We welcome to the Orange Juice team Heather Pritchard. No stranger to the Orange County blogosphere, she left the Liberal OC in 2008 due to frustration over her lack of autonomy there, but spurned my invitation to join the Orange Juice because she was creeped out by our lineup in that era. (You know.) Instead she created, along with former Fountain Valley Mayor Gus Ayer and current HB councilman Joe Shaw, the late, lamented OC Progressive.
Did I say “late, lamented?” Yes, I did, and here she is.
Heather is married to Dr. Gary Pritchard, who has just been elected President of the FORMERLY troubled Capistrano Unified School District. Congratulations, Gary!
We promise never to tell Heather what she can and can’t write about. Without further ado… here’s Heather!
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Since my sorry bruised ass has been painfully stuck at home for the past few weeks [car accident - Ed] and I have been spending way too much time online and awake too late, I have been thinking about gifts that my daughter and I could make together with some one handed direction from me. (It is a long story, but I got in a car accident, on disability until end of January and cannot use my left arm to do anything, also struggling with other fun injuries and a lot of pain.)
I am lucky to have the best lap dog ever to keep me company, she has been stuck to me like glue. I adore my Emma girl.
So I thought I may share some of my finds, eco-friendly ideas, upcycling crafts, home made goodies, etc. and maybe inspire others to try these at home.
It started with a necklace that I helped my daughter make for herself. She felt empowered and oh-so-special and wanted to do more. we have made things in the past together, so this was not the first time, but she was the patient one this time helping me put the clasp together with one hand and learning how to put a crimping bead on.
The next question was, what gifts could we make for gifts?
I started with a great list that some one else compiled called, 101 Green Handmade Gift Tutorials. Some are not easy, some are not very good to give as gifts and some just are not right for the occasion but the list gave me links to other ideas, websites and future crafts once I have better skills and the use of both hands again.
Charlotte and I agreed that gift number one was perfect for us to make for a teacher’s gift or girlfriend’s. Lemon Sugar Hand Scrub – Under the Table and Dreaming.
Just three ingredients, all which should be bought organic, recycled jars and reused or recycled ribbons and you have an amazing handmade and green gift for any amazing woman on your list. There is also a recipe for a brown sugar body scrub (and no, I do not think I am sharing anything ground breaking here but hoping to show people how easy it can be to make gifts).
Our other project is going to kick off at our local good will in search of wool sweaters that no one may want to wear again but they certainly have some use left in them! We are going to make sweater wreaths! It doesn’t take much and I know Charlotte can help cut up sweaters into similar sized squares. The other great thing about these is that you use wire hangers to make them! And you can make them any way you want, here are just a few examples I got from etsy.
Now if I had two hands and a sewing machine, I would also try sweater pillows (now now). It is amazing how ugly sweaters make amazing pillows! And lots of others things you can do with scrap fabric.
Some other ideas I like were:
Felted Soap – Rhythm of the Home
Menswear Stuffed Bunny – Martha Stewart
Recycled Lunch Bag – Made By Lex
T-Shirt Memory Quilt – EcoKaren
And another one of my favorite ideas, look what you can do with all those t-shirts you love but you necessarily do not want to wear? Voila! It is the perfect gift for an older kid, baby boomer with too many t-shirts, etc.
And then if you really do not want to make anything, here are some cool green gifts I found. I have actually made such a list in the past for black Friday or But Nothing day but did not post this year. I was worn out from Thanksgiving. This list is not meant to be comprehensive, there are so many worthy charities and ideas that by me not including something is not a comment about that organization. I know in the past I have gotten Criticism for the things I did include. So be it, if you have an issue with Heifer International or any other organization, you can make it with out calling anyone a corporate shill, etc.
So to start, some places to shop online. I belong to this great little company called Blissmo and once a month I can opt to receive my choice of a box of organic/fair trade product budged and discounted and sent straight to my door. It is a great way for me to try new brands of products and support this great little company in San Francisco that is also helping support great little companies around the US. Their Customer service has been above average since I have had some issues with my boxes, but they have always gone above and beyond to make things right. Charlotte is a fan and she looks forward to opening our Blissmo Box every month. And they also have Groupon like deals for companies that specialize in organic, fair trade and sustainably made products.
It is how I discovered Abe’s Market, a great online store for all things keen and green and a good alternative to Amazon for your sustainable goodies you need to buy online! They have a registry as well! Some great gifts you can get there?
GLOB arts and crafts products are sourced from natural and biodegradable materials, specializing in paints made from fruits, vegetables, and spices with natural ingredients and organic extracts.
Here are some other interesting online retailers that sell a multitude of products or just clothes (in a range of prices and styles) handmade to made in the USA, I hope you find something new and exciting:
- Ethical Ocean has a elf helper to help you pick out the perfect gift and they sell gifts from food to personal care items.
How it works
Presented here is a collection of the most ethical products in North America. Every product on our website must qualify for at least one of our three designations: Good for People, Good for Animals or Good for the Environment. Sellers are thoroughly screened before being allowed to sell on our site.
- Green Feet
- Etsy, I know, everyone knows Etsy, but I feel I must have it here!
- Moral Fibers
Moral Fibers clothing is painted by artists in developing countries who dream for a better life for themselves, their families, and their communities. Buy a Moral Fibers shirt, and wear the difference you want to see in the world.
-The Team
- Brilliant Earth – Look, I am not advertising, I am not a big jewelry person, but if you buy diamonds, please try your local antique shop and then try ethical diamonds. Just a suggestion.
- Twirly girl. Looks simple fun and tough pricey, it is made in the USA. All these sites are not for everyone, but I had fun looking.
- Goody beads has gorgeous recycled beads that I hope to get some for Charlotte and I. We also determined we could make our own paper beads that they have for sale, there are lots of guides, even a few on the 101 Green Handmade Gift Tutorials.
- Fair Indigo
- United by Blue
For every product sold, UBB removes 1 pound of trash from our worlds oceans and waterways.
- My Good Greetings, a greener alternative to shutterfly, recycled photo cards!
- Earth Lover
- World of Good by Ebay
- Hannah Anderson
- Sweet Organics, which includes 100% post consumer waste wrapping paper and bows, made here in the US.
- Now my girl is an animal lover and all things in the ocean, dolphins, sharks and whales. She loves to go whale watching with me, read about dolphins and whales and watch documentaries about all animals. So this gift made me think of her.
Bring the a little bit of the sea into your home! Adopt a killer whale, dolphin, and shark and in addition to cute plush version of each, you’ll receive a personalized adoption certificate. Your donation will help protect these animals from destructive fishing and habitat loss due to climate change. All gifts go towards making our world’s oceans healthier and safer, for generations to come.
I know she would also love coupons for various visits to local parks and longer road trips to our National Parks. I just started reading Last Child in the Woods and I know that any time outdoors would be good for her. So I thought a coupon book of outdoor activities would be a great idea. We have so many great parks with naturalists that lead programs with kids. How about a coupon for the day on low tide so we can go see all the critters at the perfect time? One visit to the Ocean Institute (insert your local institute or museum), One trip to help Back to Natives plant Natives, One beach clean up with a shopping spree to follow. One nature hike with the family. One afternoon with Mom to do green crafts! The list goes on and on and it could be gifts that give all year round!
There are so many amazing organizations that you can donate to in someone’s name, so many good causes or you can purchase local gift certificates for businesses in your neighborhood to keep it hyperlocal and make sure your money supports your immediate community.
How we spend our money and time says a lot about who we are and how we give gifts says something about how we value our planet and resources.
And the even more revolutionary approach is to skip the gifts all together and focus on the most important thing of all, the people in our lives and the importance that they have over stuff, over things, over money and the push to buy bigger and better gifts.
There are so many people out there hurting that our family has scaled back our Christmas spending so we would have enough to donate to those who are struggling. Imagine that, a Christmas for others, there are lots of organizations that will help you bring the Holidays to those who would otherwise not have any if it were not for the kindness of strangers.
Charlotte helps us pick out toys for our local Toys for Tots and Spark of Love toy drives. She also knows that the end of the year means going through her toys and giving away toys she no longer plays with.
The options are limitless.
[previously posted at the Great Orange Satan Daily Kos]
Welcome, Heather!
WOW! What a great addition! How come neither of you told me this was coming?
“You know how the Prime Minister loves surprises.”
Reference = Dr Strangelove, Doomsday Machine.
I’ve heard Heather described in many ways, but as a Doomsday Machine may end up being her absolute favorite!
It’s about time we had someone on here who knows a lot about industrial hemp and can help dispel the myths about its use. FYI, that’s cannabis with less than 0.3% THC content or the cannabis equivalent of O’Doul’s to the Prohibitionists and the uninformed out there. Or as Dave Chappelle calls it, O’Dweed’s.
The presence of the Northwood Night Stalker can give anyone the creeps. The fact that he resides in the same area as me in the City of the Beige makes it feel like Halloween 365 days a year.
…makes it feel like Halloween 365 days a year.
I think that’s the whole idea.
What, you’re not enjoying it?
Vern. It’s eerie enough here with Emperor Bren and his long time apprentice Darth Agran. I’m shocked that the Northwood Night Stalker “cares” so much about MasterPlannedistan since he and the Long Beach Boy Wonder seem to focus all of their venom on Santa Ana and Art Pedroza. Of course, he’s probably reading this right now and will write some claptrap about the Irvine Public Schools Foundation’s “charity” work. Or he might be stalking someone at Target at the Irvine/Tustin Marketplace that he thinks is me.
It’s a good thing he does not know who I am.
Sometime I hope that you will explain what you are talking about so it can be evaluated. Are you just a still-frustrated airport proponent or what?
You had me supporting you at the first sentence but then you proceeded to make a jackass of yourself. The assumption you made about me and my assumed stance on the airport/Not So Great Park in the second sentence was uncalled for. But unlike other people who get all wound up over being misrepresented, I’m not going to demand an apology because I want you to look like the jackass that you just made yourself out to be by assuming my stance on the airport. But that should suit you just fine since the jackass is the mascot of your chosen political party.
You probably did not know this nor would you really care since you seem to be so apt to assume my position, but it was not Darth Agran that led the fight against the airport. It was a group of concerned citizens that happened to be retired military officers (lead by my dad for the record) that sat out in front of and solicited petitions. Agran swept in and took credit and then procedded to come out and announced his scam known as The Not So Great Park. Several years later and countless number of no-bid contracts awarded by the City Council for no work done, Agran’s master plan for Central Park West (as he dubbed it) is being seen for the fraud that it is. Even a guy like Vern’s best friend M. Scott Moxley called him out on it in the OC Weekly.
Since I actually live in Irvine, unlike you who lives in Brea, I do have a vested interest in what goes on with the local taxes that I pay to the powers that be that reside in City Hall. Just because you negotiated a tent encampment in front of Harvard and Alton does not make you a resident of the town that I reside in. Unlike you, I’ve lived here in MasterPlannedistan for a number of years. This is why I don’t get involved with other cities’ problems like Santa Ana, Huntingon Beach, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Stanton, Tustin, Brea or San Juan Capistrano. I don’t have a vested interest there. However, if it is something to do with the MasterPlannedistan City Council, the IUSD or the corporatist shenanginas of our city’s biggest redevelopment agency, known as The Irvine Company,
What would I do with the land known as the former MCAS El Toro? I would rather gather a group of my fellow Indian (or what you hypersensitive, guilt ridden, emasculated white male Democrats like Darth Agran call Native Americans) brothers, declare the site as sacred land/sovereign nation and build a casino/hotel resort and waterpark. Once we get that designation, we’d have the construction crews putting up buiildings and would be done within a matter of months, not years like the “leadership” of the Not So Great Park. But then the white NIMBYs like Agran and Ackerman would cry foul at my proposal and lament about “the children” being around gambling and ***whispered tones**** “unsavory characters” (aka Indians like myself and people who are the wrong shade of white in this part of town). Think about the jobs our tribe would bring to the employment starved region and the tax revenues that the state can collect from us (yes, we Indians do pay taxes with our casino proceeds). But the white NIMBYs are more content with doling out processed foodstuffs to our people and letting them rot and die on the rez rather than allow them to make it on their own by establishing a business and providing jobs to their own people and other non-Indians. And I would dare say our tribes are a hell of a lot more charitable than the sham of a government that you are so hell bent on supporting. You see, it’s in our culture to take care of our own. Unlike what your white brothers do by taking the land and exploting others for your own personal gain and selfishness .
Unlike you, Mr. Ivy League Juris Doctorate, I am not afraid to venture where most white men fear to go. Maybe it didn’t occur to you, but the Indian way of doing things brings a lot more harmony and happiness to others than what your white brethern have tried to inflict on us for the last 500 years.
First, you really need to calm down and filter out some of the bullshit before you rant.
OK: you know that question mark at the end of that second sentence? That designated a question. I know that the military base was a proposed site for an airport and that the opposition to this stopped it, which as I understand it led to the Great Park. That’s why I asked if you were part of the pro-airport group. I was seeking information.
You have a lot of interesting and useful things to say at times, my Catholic attempted-regicide-named colleague, but you seem to retreat into Mau-Mauing on behalf of aboriginal Americans (a term I prefer to “Native,” which seems … nativist) when challenged in all sorts of areas, in much the same way that scoundrels resort to crowing their patriotism. This is too bad, because there’s a lot people should know about tribal matters and the old and more sustainable ways of life — something that I’d think would actually be a good fit for the Great Park. (Note: my family has been in this country for less than 100 years on all sides, so my guess is that I’m not a lineal descendent of the inflicting white brethren and that, like many with aboriginal heritage, you are a descendent in part. So that “sins of the fathers” bullet misses me, regardless of whether it ricochets and hits you.)
Thanks to the above, I can now better place you politically: you’re an Indian casino advocate, and that is apparently why you have got this enormous grudge against Agran. That seems almost Hinckleyesque in its misdirection, but you’re entitled to what my own tribe calls a mishegoss. I’m just not going to take seriously the notion that Agran deserves the “Darth” title just because he (apparently) doesn’t want to hand over the Great Park to your tribe — or, as the case may be, “tribe.” (Was there ever a proposal, by the way? Were he and Ackerman the only opponents, if so?)
Which tribe are you talking about specifically, by the way? Are you a full-blooded Gabrielino? Because the way you talk about it, it sounds like you’re saying that you can just collect a bunch of people with tribal affiliations from anywhere and say “We get to designate what is sacred ground. OK, now give us land for a casino.” I’m sure that you’re actually more sophisticated than that, so here’s your chance to explain how. Because the idea that one can use fake-professed religious assertions to assure profit is … ugly and not, so far as I understand, typical of people who follow aboriginal American religions. (Right?)
So thanks for clearing things up. By the way, I’ll bet you that if I favored the Great Park being turned over to a tribe for casino purposes, you wouldn’t mind my “meddling” in Irvine politics, would ya, Sparky? I’d look forward to hearing your critique of the Irvine Company, by the way, because it sounds like something you might know something about and be able to discuss without the “they won’t give me my casino!” chip on your shoulder.
I’d also look forward to reading your actual critique of the Great Park itself — “no bid” contracts can be good or bad, depending on a lot of factors that go beyond saying “booga booga, cronyism!” — if you have one. If the critique is just “they won’t give me my casino!”, that’s a shame. Hey, what is your understanding of what *is* going on in the Great Park (or whatever you want to call it), anyway? We can agree that there are free balloon rides and that that’s not a sufficiently great use for 1300+ acres; is there more to the critique? Is there more to the plans for the park, as you understand them? Those question marks, by the way — they also designate actual questions.
Dan’s house is a lot nicer than yours GF. Try not to be so bitter.
I came to approve a comment that stated, “I thought she was smarter than this?”
And to wish everyone a Happy Holidays!