It’s Earth Day! Four Tips On How Your Birthday Party Can Give Back To The Planet.

It’s not really about throwing a green birthday party but rather throwing a party that is in keeping with the times.

A few mindful choices will let you and your guests feel proud about making the world a better place, one fabulous birthday bash at a time.  Where to begin?

1) Say adios to stamps! And hola to e-invitations.

Sending e-invitations eliminates paper, ensures speed of delivery and  allows your guests to RSVP, right away.  Sending Thank You notes becomes a joy, not a chore, when you personalize them with photos from the party with a press of the ‘send’ button.   No emissions, no paper cuts and no searching for mailing addresses required.

2) There’s no place like home.

Dorothy said it best when she tapped her heels three times…

Bringing your birthday party into your home allows you to reduce the need to use paper goods and disposable decorations.  Setting your table with your own dishes, cutlery and glasses not only makes the party feel special, it helps to keep the recycle bin from over-flowing.  Collect flowers or rocks from the garden to make place card settings extra special.

3) Work smarter not harder.

Giving group gifts is efficient, resourceful and best of all, is likely to result in a gift that will last and be treasured for years to come.  Let’s be real. If you asked your wee one who gave the LEGO set for their 5^th birthday, chances are you would still be waiting for that answer. If you asked who gave them their first baseball glove (iPod, scooter or camera) you will likely get a very clear and resounding – all of my friends!

Group gifts are also a sure fire way to get the friend-of-the-year award (while saving on gas and aggravation). Imagine telling your guests that they can give online, in seconds, and still give little Johnny the gift he has been dreaming about – while never leaving home.

4) The only thing better then giving one gift, is giving TWO.

Amp up the meaning of any birthday party by  including a charitable component (no gift wrap required).  Not only will you be teaching your kids that giving can be done at any age, you will be giving your child the gift that can ONLY come from helping others in need. Make it easy, make it fun and most of all, magnify the lasting impact the choice to give back will have on others.

Green, for sure.  Smart, you bet. Birthday parties of today, certainly can keep up with the time.

ECHOage your next birthday party.  Or, sign up for your FREE reminder.

A gift of music and love of animals made Elana’s 11th birthday, music to our ears!

For Elana’s 11^th birthday, she got a FLUTE and WWF got $317.00.

Ever since Elana was a toddler she’s had a strong interest in whales and marine life.  In fact, this summer she had the opportunity to see many varieties on a whale watching trip on the St. Lawrence River in Quebec. WWF was just a natural charity choice for her, as well it fit with her party theme of exotic animals.

Elana has been playing the flute since she was 8 years old. She loves the flute for it’s beautiful sound.  Elana wants to pursue learning to play and perform into high school and getting a brand new flute for her ECHOage birthday was just the thing she needed to take her to the next level.

WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by:

• -conserving the world’s biological diversity
• -ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable
• -promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption

Elana, you already are instrumental in making the world around you, a better place.  A giant happy birthday from ECHOage, to you!