One of my favorite easy-to-make appetizers are skewers! They’re visually appealing, are super quick and easy to make and the variations on flavors are never-ending.
This weekend my neighborhood wine group had a small summer kick-off cookout on Saturday. It had been a busy week so I was looking for something quick and easy to take. I came up with these Greek inspired feta, cucumber and Kalamata olive skewers with Greek dressing for dipping on the side. Assembly for a couple dozen pieces took 5 minutes or less. People commented that they looked fancy/festive yet they were so easy!
With Mother’s Day still a week away it’s not too late to choose the perfect gift for mom. Whether yours is a girly-girl, a fitness freak, a bookworm, a gourmet, an artist or a gardener, Natty Gal has some ideas for you!
The Dyson hairdryer is a bit over the top but, come on, who wouldn’t want to get ready holding that fantastic piece of machinery? How about the Eccentrics for that one-of-a-kind mom? A great way to show appreciation for the quirks and idiosynchrysies we all posess. Or the succulent garden! So simple, stylish and easy to take care of. Lots more ideas to choose from – check them out on the slider below!
Shop Mother’s Day
3-quarter view product render of Alta HR in a classic blue gray band.
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For even more gift inspiration, check out these prior posts related to gifting:
Tomorrow is Earth Day and Natty Gal is taking part by speaking today on the topic of waste in fashion with some statistics and resources below. I don’t want to be too preachy as many people enjoy fashion as a fun and affordable hobby but do ask that you try to be mindful of what you consume. Excess has consequences.
Enjoy the weekend – get out there and plant something, pick up some litter or just enjoy this spectacular planet we live on!
Creation by Colombian designer Brahyan Castaneda at BioFashion Show, November 19, 2016 (Photo by Luis Robayo/AFP Photo)
Statistics
In less than 20 years, the volume of clothing Americans toss each year has doubled from 7 million to 14 million tons.
Currently, the average American throws away 82 pounds of clothes every single year.
On average, only 20% of clothing donated to charity sells.
40% will be baled and shipped over the world.
United States is the biggest exporter of used clothes.
Top importing countries of used clothing are India, Russia and Pakistan.
84% of unwanted clothes in the United States end up in a landfill or an incinerator.
Natural fibers in a landfill act like food waste, producing methane gas as they degrade. Chemicals from bleaches and dyes can leach into groundwater. Burning the items in incinerators can release toxins into the air.
Synthetic fibers are essentially a petroleum based plastic that takes hundreds of years to degrade.
Commercially scalable, closed-loop textile recycling technology is five to 10 years away, at best.
For additional information read To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing Out the World?, Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion or Naked Fashion: The New Sustainable Fashion Revolution.
Watch Minimalism, The True Cost, Sweatshop: Deadly Fashion or this brief video.
For inspiration on how to do more with less, check out how this young mother survived an experiment of wearing just six items for six weeks! And, of course, check out Natty Gal’s recent posts on capsule wardrobes.
