From pink champagne on ice to all-natural hangover remedies, we’ve got the top tips for starting your New Year off on a good, green foot. From our friends at Planet Green.
Whether you’re looking forward to January 1 because you can’t wait to leave 2009 behind you or because you’re already looking forward to the plans you have for the next few months, it’s easy to put a green twist on your New Year’s celebration. From celebratory drinks and organic champagne to non-toxic lip balm for that perfect midnight kiss, see how you can keep your resolution to live green in 2010.
1. Skip the crowds.
Celebrating at your favorite bar guarantees you an overpriced entrance fee, a partial view of a so-so cover band, and a glass of cheap champagne at midnight–but celebrating at home lets you save on travel output, choose your favorite sustainable food and drinks, and actually spend some time chatting with your friends. And when the clock strikes 12, you can turn on the classic Times Square show and watch the ball –now made from 32,256 LED lights that reflect off 2,668 Waterford crystals–drop to ring in the new year.
2. Indulge organically.
Treat your guests to a menu of cocktails made from organic and eco-friendly liquors, like the Black Pearl (organic gin, blue curacao, and cranberry juice), the Lemon Drop (organic vodka, lemon juice, and sugar), and the Fireside martini (organic vodka, Irish cream, creme de cacao). And if you can’t find your favorite spirits in an organic version, then shop local: check breweries and distilleries in your area for beer, wine, and liquor that won’t require cross-country (or international) shipping.
3. Stock up on green champagne.
When it comes to that all-important midnight toast, pop open a few bottles of organic bubbly; made from organically-grown grapes, these sparkling wines and Champagnes offer the same sweet, dry, and rich tastes of traditional blends, but without the pesticides. For an added touch, try pink champagne and serve up a brut, prosecco, or sparkling rose from a vineyard that uses sustainable growing techniques and energy conservation systems. And of course, don’t use paper or plastic cups–they’re not nearly as festive, plus they encourage extra waste; instead, buy inexpensive glasses that you can use year after year (or send home with your guests as favors), or rent glassware for one-time use.
4. Serve organic snacks.
Keep your guests happy (and slightly more sober) with a spread of eco-friendly, sustainable foods: vegetarian appetizers, like mushroom arepas or chickpea bruschetta, jarred spreads from your local farmer’s market with bread from the neighborhood bakery, and desserts made from organic chocolate and local fruit. The menu doesn’t have to be fancy (or complicated) to be a success.
5. Pucker up.
For soft, smooth lips just in time for that midnight kiss, use a petroleum-free lip balm–which not only cuts your carbon footprint, but also absorbs better (so your lips hold onto the moisture better). Feeling crafty? Make your own lip softener with bittersweet chocolate and orange extract for a non-toxic solution that will give you the party’s most popular pucker.
6. Deal with the next day.
Everyone has his own favorite hangover cure, from water and aspirin to Gatorade and an egg sandwich. But natural remedies can be even more effective (and don’t come with the side effects of pharmaceutical pain relievers). Stick with plenty of water to clear out the toxins, and then apply topical Tiger Balm for your headache; take a wasabi-infused detoxifying bath; and try a seated twist yoga pose to squeeze alcohol out of your organs. Or try a pre-emptive cure by drinking wheatgrass juice before bed; the antioxidants and enzymes will help you get energized while cleaning out your system.
7. Make green resolutions.
They say that whatever you’re doing at midnight is what you’ll be doing for the next 12 months–so why not resolve to keep making green choices? Buy local food, increase your intake of organic vegetables, start biking to work, switch to renewable energy sources, volunteer with an environmental organization, or look for a green job and you can keep those most popular resolutions (lose weight, get fit, save money, find a new career) while doing your part for the environment.
Blythe Copeland is a contributor to TreeHugger and Planet Green.
(photo by Scott Peterman, via Guernica Magazine)
