Green Mingling...

Our latest event...Chicago Green Families and the Chicago Conservation Corps hosted an Eco Chic Cocktail Party & Tour on December 18, 2008. Guests gathered in my home to take a self guided tour of our Top 40 eco friendly changes and do some green mingling! Locally produced and organic wines and cheeses were served in addition to some indulgent organic cakes from Bleeding Heart Bakery.

For those who couldn't attend, here's the recap of the Top 40 changes designed to reduce waste, protect the environment, conserve energy and resources...

1. Use Miracle Mulch (eco friendly coconut)

2. Add weather stripping to conserve energy.

3. Use motion sensors for outdoor lights to save energy. Turn off the porch light whenever we can.

4. Installed ceiling fans throughout the house. Never turned on the AC in 2008!

5. Unplug electronics when they aren't in use.

6. Purchase new furniture items second hand whenever possible.

7. Use CFLs throughout the house.

8. Purchased a bundled holiday tree that we will plant after the holiday season instead of cutting a tree down or purchasing a fake tree.

9. Used LED lights on the holiday tree.

10. Eliminate printing from the computer whenever possible.

11. Purchase art using recycled materials from Dolan Geiman.

12. Turned down the thermostat by 3 degrees for the winter season. Lower when we can.

13. Use recycled paper and print on both sides whenever we have to print.

14. Recycle printer cartridges.

15. Purchase most clothes secondhand at Cynthia's Consignment Boutique.

16. Purchase nay new clothes at Pivot Boutique.

17. Purchase bedding from A Cooler Planet and Healthy Green Goods that uses 100% organic materials.

18. Recycle any items we cannot reuse or compost. (We shred used paper for packing materials and use paper for crafts before shredding.)

19. Compost all foods except breads, meats, dairy & sugars.

20. Purchase majority of food at Green City Market for locally produced organic foods.

21. Use all eco friendly household products.

22. Became a Chicago Method Maven spreading the word on how to be eco chic when you clean. 23. Eliminated paper towel and use rags made of recycled fabric scraps from clothes we could not use or donate.

24. Use cloth napkins everyday.

25. Run the dishwasher only when full.

26. Use our convection oven whenever possible.

27. Eliminated all plastic storage bags by using glass containers and reusable containers made of eco friendly materials.

28. Party supplies are all either reusable or recycled and 100% biodegradable.

29. Replaced PVC shower liner with fabric liner that zips off for easy cleaning and reusing.

30. Use toilet paper made of recycled paper. (Softer than you think!)

31. Eliminated using facial tissue by making handkerchiefs from fabric scraps.

32. Purchase all organic personal products.

33. Reduce water consumption with shorter showers.

34. Turn off water whenever we brush our teeth.

35. Wrapped the water heater to conserve energy and turned down the water heater temperature.

36. Wash clothes in cold water whenever we have a full load.

37. Added a rain barrel outside to capture water for landscaping.

38. Added energy saving film to second floor skylights.

39. Use VOC free paint for touch ups and crafts.

40. Eliminated all plastic bags by using canvas bags wherever we go.

I'd like to thank the Chicago Conservation Corps, Chicago Department of the Environment and Method for donating such fabulous swag, Rita Conti, MJ Tam of Chicagonista and all of our guests who braved the impending storm to join us and add laughter and insight to all of our conversations.

Here's an eavesdroppers snapshot ... Jessa owner of Pivot Boutique admired my lovely Lara Miller tier dress she sold me the day before...Karen Heart- Founder of the Green Community Center shared her list of vendors from the Green Holiday Bazaar she hosted two weeks prior in Oak Park... Marlena Gray brought me some emaginegreen workshop information and connected me with some awesome BPA free bottles... Amy Helgren- owner of Second Child and I decided to do an article together... Marta Cerda offered to host a workshop talking about the Melaleuca products she adores... The Lamars joked about my adoration of everything Dr. Seuss and our gratitude for St. Chrysostom Day School... Marny Turvill (Dr. Marny to me) owner of Healthy Green Goods in Evanston explained the mystery of raw foods and good health... MJ Tam- owner of MomViews.net and my partner in Chicagonista planned a party with Chris Campbell- owner of Greenwerks... Melissa Graham- owner of Monogramme Events and I decided on a couples dinner soon... Lisa Rekstad loaned her husband to give us the insider tips on the perfect Chemex cup of coffee... Erica Grigg became my new BFF... Eva Penar- PR Manager of the Chicago Community Trust discussed the opportunities of grants for Chicago not-for-profits... Adam Campbell gave me the scoop on accessing some wind manufacturing plants in IL...

Thank you! Thank you! for a fabulous evening & I really look forward to our next event. For more snapshots of the evening click here. Best, Jen