Addressing your Invitations--What's in a Name?

If there's one spot in invitation etiquette that causes the most contention, it may just be what names to put on the envelope. Suddenly your single friends are your favorites on the invitation list--their names don't give you hives worrying whether to put "Mr. and Mrs. Willaim Smith" or "Elizabeth and William Smith."

First and foremost, remember that most people are not going to be terribly angry if you don't follow the etiquette they prefer in envelope addressing. If you write something that isn't their preference, most will understand and assume it was an honest mistake. Remember, as well, that you don't have to follow the same protocol with every envelope. Traditionally, married couples were considered a social unit that was identified by the man's name. Clearly, many couples today feel that this is a touch one-sided, though many also either don't mind or prefer what they consider to be the more formal traditional approach. So, if you know or can reasonably guess your guests' preferences, write the envelope the way they would like. If not, use your preference! (After all, it is your event!)

If you choose to list both couples' names, it's considered correct to put the woman's name first. This holds true if she has the same or a different last name from her husband. So:

Elizabeth and William Smith

or

Mary Allen and Barton Davis

Titles may be used in addition. This gets kind of awkward with the ladies' first rule for the same last name (Mrs. Elizabeth and Mr. William Smith is fine to use but seems a mouthful to some) so that rule is often abandoned to get the more natural Mr. and Mrs. Elizabeth and William Smith. If ladies' first feels dated, list the person you know better first, list alphabetically, or list by whatever pleases your aesthetic sense. When in doubt, you can fall back on ladies' first because it's never considered incorrect.

Also, technically speaking, using "and" between two peoples' names is reserved for married couples. You may have long-term relationships or same-sex couples in your guest list who you consider having made an equivalent commitment; use "and" when you feel it's appropriate.

Again, technically speaking, traditional etiquette states that couples living at separate addresses get separate invitations. In the interest of saving paper and acknowledging long-term relationships that may not cohabitate, you may find it's more appropriate to send one invitation. We recommend sending it to the more organized partner...other than that, it's your call!

What about:

Same-Sex Couples: The only real question here is whose name comes first; in traditional etiquette, one lists the lady in a couple first. If you know one person better than the other, list his or her name first and his or her partner second. If you know them equally well, list alphabetically. Other than that, follow the rules you would follow for any other couple.

Single Guests: Let's start by defining "single." If a guest is not married but is in a relationship, it is polite to invite his or her significant other. If this is the case, list them both on the envelope, generally, one over the other. Say Amy Anders is your friend, and Joseph Caldwell is her significant other:

Ms. Amy Anders

Mr. Joseph Caldwell

If the guest is not in a relationship, you have a choice. Some couples choose to invite single guests with "and guest" so that they may bring a date. Others choose not to do so, which is not impolite if guests will know others at the event and/or that there will be other singles there. In this case, write

Amy Anders and Guest

If someone is in a relationship, do your utmost not to invite him or her "and guest." Their significant other has a name, and it's polite to use it!

A note on titles: I've used and not used titles with abandon in these example, and it's your choice whether to include titles. Titles make an address appear more formal. Consider the tone and formality of your wedding when deciding whether to include titles on invitations; when in doubt, it's never incorrect to use titles.

For more examples, more situations, and more general reassurance that you won't be flogged for the way you address your envelopes, please see http://www.twistedlimbpaper.com/addressing_etiquette.htm.

Green Debate--E-Books vs. Print Books

Chilly November days seem to call for curling up with a good book and a big mug of coffee. A simple, quiet, uncomplicated pursuit. Right? Well, with the advent of e-books and the flashy devices with which to read them, the question of just how green this previously low-tech activity can be is popping up, with opinions differing widely depending who you ask.

Of course, the initial reaction--and many early studies are confirming this--is that paper saved is trees gained and of course the Kindle, Nook, Sony's E-reader (ok, so Sony looses on the creative naming contest) and others are a more eco-friendly option than traditional books. But many of these studies failed to take into consideration the lifespan of the Kindle and ilk--and the fact that their components are not biodegradeable and are potentially toxic. The energy used to power the devices isn't negligible, either. More on these sticking points in this article (which also mentions a fascinating component of green wine production, too).

As with many consumer choices, this might just come down to personal preference. There are those who can't be parted from their i-pods, and those who won't ever give up vinyl. In the same way, some are going to hop on the e-reading bandwagon because they enjoy the ease, portability, and techie features, while others will hold onto their paper books, prefering this more tactile experience of reading. And if holding on to paper books is your preference, there are still ways to green your reading:

• Choose to rent from the library. Sure, there are some books you'll want on your shelf permanently. But for the latest best seller or sampling new authors, rent a book. It's the ultimate in using, reusing, and reusing a book some more.
• Buy used. It's cheaper, it's greener than buying new, and often it lets you support a local bookstore that specializes in new and used books. Or swap with friends!
• Buy recycled paper books. There's a movement afoot to get the publishing industry to switch to recycled papers and forest-friendly papers; Greenpeace is one organization with a campaign on the issue. The Green Press Initiative is also committed to improving standards in the publishing industry. The push seems to be working--Simon and Schuster, one of the world's major publishing firms, set new standards for eco-friendly printing practices. It's not perfect yet, but it's a start.

Of course, green your reading even further by picking something up that will make you think about the earth. What are some of your favorite titles?

Eco'Lantern

Carving a pumpkin is a great creative activity—low cost, and low environmental impact, too. Pick your pumpkin from a local patch or farmer’s market to reduce the carbon footprint of your pumpkin. If the farmer grows organically, even better!

Of course, you can take this a step further by using your pumpkin for more than just decoration. Roast the pumpkin seeds for a healthy, organic snack:

• Rinse the seeds in cool water
• Toss with oil on a baking sheet
• Roast for 30 minutes in a 300 degree oven or until golden-brown
o Make it a sweet treat by stirring together a few tablespoons of sugar and a couple teaspoons of cinnamon, nutmeg, and/or clove and sprinkling over seeds before they cool.
o Toss seeds with a teaspoon of garlic salt and two teaspoons of Worchester sauce before roasting for savory flavor
o Add a spicy kick by adding salt, cayenne, and chili powder. Season to taste—as hot as you like.

If seeds alone just aren’t enough pumpkin, you can cook peeled pumpkin by steaming or boiling (steam for 50 minutes, boil for 25). Make sure to wash away the stringy portion of the pumpkin before cooking. Mash and use in any recipe calling for pureed pumpkin. You can freeze the puree to save for pumpkin pies closer to Thanksgiving!

Green Halloween

It’s hard to believe that Halloween is next week—but the leaves are bright, there’s been frost in the morning, and there are pumpkins…everywhere.

Halloween can be a conscientious consumer’s nightmare. Between the polyester costumes and the individually packaged candies, it’s easy to slip into an eco-trick instead of treat. But there are ways to green this holiday, too!

If you’re participating in community trick or treat, keep in mind that you may be required to pass out pre-packaged candy rather than a greener (and probably healthier) homemade treat. Unfortunately, apples, popcorn, and homemade cookies are suspect rather than welcome in our crazy world. You can find organic candy—local natural foods stores may stock brands, or you can find organic candy in bulk from Yummy Earth. Admittedly, you get a ton of organic naturally-flavored (and colored!) lollipops, but consider your candy shopping done!

Greening your costume can be even easier—homemade creations not only provide a fun activity for you (and your kids…or young-at-heart friends), but can give new life to old clothes and other supplies. Scarecrows, princesses, zombies, and a multitude of other costumes are hiding in the aisles of your local thrift shop, or even forgotten in the back of your closet. Consider boxes as-yet-unfinished robots—or Thomas the Tank Engine, which a friend of mine is crafting for her son. Not to take the fun out of the holiday, but a creative reuse project can be a great learning tool for kids! (Share your ideas or greatest hits in the comments!)

As for decorations, skip the plastic pumpkins and the fakey spiderwebs (what is that stuff made of, anyway?) and go for the real thing, which can last well into November as a fall decoration and then be composted. Support local growers by visiting a patch or your farmer’s market. Add color and texture with leaves collected from your yard, twisty fallen branches, or corn from the farmer’s market.

And of course…Happy Halloween!

Green Travel Online--Including one great deal!

I’m an avid Hotwire booker—I’m not picky about where I stay but I am pretty cheap. Given that I’ve been on the site multiple times in the past year, I was surprised when, perusing my latest booking confirmation, I noticed a “Go Green” option from the company. It’s a pretty cool deal—purchase carbon offsets from TerraPass.com, and Hotwire will pay for half!

This got me wondering what other hidden specials and green tips might be lurking behind your favorite online booking sites. A quick sampling:

*Expedia gives tips for reducing your carbon footprint and lets you easily bundle offsets with your flight purchase. If you forgot to offset your last trip, you can do so retroactively, as well. You can also search for green hotels on their site.

*Travelocity offers a Green Directory that links travelers with eco-friendly hotels and destinations. Makes for fun browsing!

*If you can’t find what you’re looking for on the major sites, try istaygreen.org, a booking site devoted to eco-conscious options. You can search the site for only green options to narrow your search. The site also includes a green travel blog and reviews from fellow travelers.

*Try booking your trip on rezhub.com. Their philosophy—not every location you may want (or need) to visit has green options, and purchasing carbon offsets may mean extra cash you don’t have on hand. The solution? A portion of the proceeds from every trip booked on the site goes to earth-friendly organizations, chosen by popular vote among the customers.

Putting the Garden to Bed

If you’re a gardener, fall is the culmination of your year-long efforts. Squash, zucchini, tomatoes...vegetable paradise. I’m noticing signs around my neighborhood advertising backyard gardeners selling their excess bounty (usually in the form of tomatoes). Yet the fall means a bittersweet time for gardens, as well—it’s nearly time to put the garden to bed for the winter. As with any other chore you do in your garden, there are ways to make the process friendlier on the earth and easier on you when you come back to gardening in the spring.

*Keep cleaning weeds out, even after the patch has been harvested. Keeping the garden free of weeds reduces the number of dormant weed seeds in your soil next spring. (What's that old saying about a stitch in time?)

*Clean out your spent annuals. Keep things green by composting them, but don’t add any diseased plants to the mix. The compost pile shouldn’t become a breeding ground for diseases that may be reintroduced next year!

*Gather unwanted or excess produce and donate to a local food bank, if possible. If not, compost it. Leaving in the garden can attract pests like wasps or rodents, and the fruit or veg may reseed itself in a spot you don’t favor for next year.

*You can cut back your perennials after the first heavy frost. Keep in mind the seed heads of many perennials are attractive to winter birds, providing natural bird feeders. If you’re lucky enough to have Coreopsis, Purple Cone Flower, or Black-eyed Susan in your flower beds or garden, consider keeping them around for the birds this winter!

*Mulch any perennials, giving them a “blanket” for the cold winter. Fallen leaves or the last lawn clipping can make for inexpensive and organic mulch. Or, try newspaper. To use as a mulch in the garden, spread a layer of 4 - 8 sheets of newspaper around the plants. Moisten the sheets to keep them in place. Cover the newspaper with a 1-3 inch layer of another organic mulch and the weed protection should last throughout the growing season. (Try this website for more on this and other mulch ideas.)

Business Cards and Handmade Paper Logo Notes for Organizations

Many people have been e-mailing requests for samples of our business cards since posting a photo of the cards we made for the Green Mansions Foundation on our Facebook page.

The cards are 2x3 1/4 inches, printed on eco-friendly 30% PCW recycled Processed Chlorine Free vellum and stitched to Twisted Limb's handmade 100% recycled paper. These extra-special cards will make quite an impression with your clients, who are sure to hang on to them!

Custom Handmade Paper Color
300 cards .95 each
500 cards .90 each
1000 cards .85 each
+ one-time $30 design fee

Color Mix of Handmade Paper Colors, Our Choice
Minimum order is 200 cards .80 each + one-time $30 design fee