by Alexandra Pauline – January 23, 2012

Your Big Day The Green Way

Planning a wedding is a costly, emotional and time consuming undertaking – often leaving little room for the idea of sustainability.  I mean, this is the one day where the entire focus is on you, right?  And with so much going on, it might not even cross your mind to think about the environment…  But if you’re planning a wedding, going Green doesn’t have to mean more work and more money.  In fact, by making your wedding a more sustainable event, not only will you make your big day even more memorable, you can save some serious cash!

Go Partially Paperless

While there’s still something special about sending printed invitations for your actual wedding, save money and paper by sending digital invites for your save-the-date, engagement party, rehearsal dinner and shower.  Websites like Paperlesspost.com, Evite.com and Punchbowl.com have some elegantly festive Fab & Fru options so you can get the job done without chopping down a single tree – all with pricing packages that range from free to budget friendly!

Keep It Local – Even when Far from Home

Even if you’re not getting married in the town you live in, you can still make sustainable local choices that will help make your wedding one of a kind!  Wedding photographer Michelle Posey commented, “I saw a couple do a great job of putting on a sustainable wedding in 2010.  They had their wedding outdoors, made local food and wine choices, used flowers from friends’ gardens instead of having them shipped in, and used a family wedding dress instead of buying a new one.”

Eatwellguide.org makes finding caterers who specialize in using local ingredients as simple as just typing in your zip code.   Not only is going local better for the environment, and your taste buds – it may also save you on the cost of food.  The less your food has to travel, the fewer hands will be looking to cash in on its journey!

Take Out The Good China

Big weddings often lead to people cutting corners when it comes to using china and flatware.  Setting the tables with proper place settings not only helps to make your day feel more special, it will also allow you will avoid the extra waste that comes with using paper and plastic products …no matter how high quality.  The caterer or the venue may have to wash a ton of dishes that night, but it will be worth it in the end!

Deals on Dairy!

I’ve always heard that dairy is one of the most important products to buy organic, but as we all know, it is usually one of the priciest!  Luckily, there are a bunch of coupons right now for Organic dairy products – to help your health and your wallet out.

Horizon Dairy is offering:

55 cents off a half gallon of Horizon Organic Milk (void in certain states – please check on their site)

Whole Foods is offering coupons for:

$1.00 off any ONE Organic Valley 8 oz. cheese

$1.00 off any TWO 32oz. Lifeway Organic Lowfat Kefirs

$1.00 of any ONE 16 oz. cup or any ONE 4oz. 4 pack of Stoneyfield Organic Oikos Greek Yogurt

Organic Valley is offering the following on their site:

50 cents off a 32 oz. organic yogurt

50 cents off any Organic Valley flavored half and half

If you find any other great Organic dairy coupons out there, be sure to let us know!

Come on, admit it — you love it when your kids leave leftover chicken nuggets so you get to polish them off!  My boys and I are addicted to Applegate Farms Natural Chicken Nuggets and Organic Chicken Strips – and the good news is Applegate is currently offering a coupon for *75 cents off their Natural and Organic Breaded Chicken Products!  You can download up to 2 of them off their wesbite.  Which brings me to my next point ….

New Year’s Eve!  As uncool as it makes us feel, I know many of us will be having an early celebration…with our kids.  But don’t fret – it doesn’t mean you have to make a million different things to please both kids and adults.  I plan on serving up Applegate Organic  Chicken Strips for both kids AND adults as a tasty nibble.  The twist?  In addition to Ranch dip, just whip up a couple “adults only” dips – check out chef Marcus Samuelsson’s “Grown-Up Ketchup“- and make sure they are clearly marked as such if they are spicy!  (Though believe me, plenty of adults will want the Ranch anyway!)  That, plus a Fab & Fru sparkling wine, will make the adults feel like they are out on the town.  Well, almost.

*If you are using a MAC make sure to open the coupon with Safari!

Champagne Alternatives that Won’t Disappoint

Looking for the ‘pop’ of Champagne without the price tag?  Jill Bernheimer of L.A. based DomaineLA and Brooklyn’s Smith & Vine have fantastic insider tips for frugal fizz that won’t sacrifice quality, taste or the experience of the classic expensive bubbly.  Shop online at both stores, or check your local wine shop and Whole Foods for these Fab & Fru suggestions!

Methode Champenoise

Whether Cava or Cremant, there are lots of wines from all over Europe that use the same rigorous method of production as Champagne, but can’t call themselves by the name since they fall outside the Champagne region. Cava is from Spain, and uses local Spanish grape varieties; Cremants come from France, and may or may not use the same grapes as in Champagne. You’re saving money just by virtue of the fact that “Champagne” is not allowed to be printed on the labels of these bottles.

Here are Smith & Vine’s Methode Champenoise Special Picks for 2012!

• Belle-Vue – Vin Mousseux Brut:  This sparkling Muscadet from the Loire Valley is light and minerally at about $18 a bottle.  Think oysters and crushed seashells, yum…

• Bruder Dr. Becker – Scheurebe Sekt Extra Trocker:  At around $22 a pop, this delightful German bubbly doesn’t just sparkle – it sizzles!

• La Taille aux Loups – Triple Zéro:  This 100% Chenin Blanc from the Vouray Loire Valley in France is delicious at $25 a bottle

• Crémant du Jura- – Domain de Montbourjeau:  100% Chardonnay from Jura and Savoie France, this “sparkle motion in a bottle” is $23 a bottl and the pick that tastes most like traditional Champagne.

by Brandi Savitt – December 19, 2011

Bake Like You Mean It

Have you been planning on getting your bake on this holiday season but can’t seem to find the time?  Well, it’s not too late!  We have three easy but deliciously sinful recipes so you can whip up a variety of homemade treats that Santa, the kids AND foodies from far and wide will equally enjoy.  Serve them to guests, or make up a box for the neighbors – no cookie cutters needed…  While they’re special enough to serve for the holidays, you’re going to want to make them all year long!

–The tradition of Christmas cookies may date back to Medieval Europe, but our favorite holiday cookie recipes are definitely for more modern taste buds.  Happy Baking!

Oatmeal Cherry Cookies

Put a little BING – cherry that is – into this oatmeal cookie classic.  The sweet and tangy twist from the cherry makes this special cookie – unforgettable!  Click here for the recipe.

Double Chocolate Espresso Cookies

Looking for a deliciously decadent cookie with a kick?  These super chocolatey coffee treats will keep a smile on Santa’s face all night long! Click here for the recipe.

Pecan Crescent Cookies

Some call them Russian wedding cookies, we just call them perfection. These super easy to make shortbread like delights are one of our favorite holiday cookies of all time!  Click here for the recipe.

We want to know…  What are your favorite holiday cookie recipes?

Ingredients

• 10 ounces semisweet or dark chocolate (chips or roughly chopped)
• 12 oz of semi sweet or dark chocolate chunks
• 2 tablespoons freshly ground espresso or dark roasted coffee
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2/3 cup unbleached flour
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Melt chocolate chips or chopped chocolate and butter over low flame on the stove until almost completely melted.  Stir constantly so not to burn.
• In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, and espresso on high speed until fluffy.  Reduce speed and blend in melted chocolate mixture.
• Mix in dry ingredients until blended.  Stir in chocolate chunks.
• Drop generous spoonfuls of the dough (like thick brownie batter) 2 inches apart onto baking sheets.  Bake for 12-15 minutes, until cookies are shiny and crackly and the centers are still soft.  Cool for a least 10 minutes on the cookie sheet before transferring to a cooling rack.  Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup of powder sugar
• 2 cups unbleached flour
• 2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

• Preheat Oven 350 degrees.
• Cream butter until smooth and fluffy.  Add 1/2 cup powder sugar and vanilla and cream again.  Fold in flour and mix well.  Mix in pecans.  Shape dough into small crescents and place on cookie sheet
• Bake for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden.  Let the cookies cool and sprinkle with plenty of powder sugar.

–Makes about 2 dozen cookies

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups unbleached flour
• 3/4 cup oatmeal
• 1 teaspoon of sea salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1/2 sugar
• 1 cup softened butter
• 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups dried bing cherries (easy to find at Trader Joe’s)
• 1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Directions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees

• Combine flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon in a bowl and set aside.  Cream together softened butter, brown sugar, sugar, and vanilla.  Once creamy, reduce speed and mix in eggs.  Slowly mix in dry mixture until blended.  Stir in cherries and nuts.  Spoon  dough onto  un-greased cookie sheets.  Bake 8 to 10 minutes.

• Recipes yields about 2 dozen cookies.

A Bevvy Of Beverages!

Are you gearing up to host a whole bunch of out-of -towners for the holidays?  To help you out, we’ve found a bunch of natural and organic beverage coupons – to help you save up for those extra trips to the therapist you’ll need while your family is in town!

Beverage Coupons From Whole Foods:

$2.50 off any two 6-packs of Zevia Soda

75 cents off any ONE 2-liter 365 Brand Soda

$1.00 off ONE box of Celestial Seasonings Tea

$1.00 of any Dream Non-Dairy Beverage

50 cents of any ONE Lifeway BioKefir 4-Pack

$1.00 off 1 64 ounce Earth’s Balance Organic Soymilk

And from our friends and Savings.com…

$2.00 off any 2 quarts of GoodBelly

 And While You’re Beverage Shopping…

I just have to give a shout out to a delish – and very reasonably priced – red wine I recently discovered at Whole Foods.  WOLFTRAP RED – offers a lot of bang for your buck.   WOLFTRAP – is a Syrah that is only $11.99 and takes like wines I have bought for at least double the price.  I plan on buying a case and taking advantage of the Whole Foods 10%  case discount – cheers!

by Stephanie Berenbaum – December 12, 2011

A City Girls Guide to Saying Thanks!

Giving holiday tips to service providers may be synonymous with Santa, but knowing what and how much to give remains a source of confusion for most of us – especially during times of economic hardship.  Not to worry –  we have some pretty strong Fab & Fru opinions on the topic!

When You Can’t Afford To Tip!

Let me start off by saying of course if you cannot afford to give the customary holiday bonus due to financial hardship, it is best to be honest with the service provider or employee and let them know how much you appreciate all of their hard work.  Always give a thoughtful card and a homemade token of appreciation rather than avoiding the topic all together.   And be sure to let them know that you hope next year will be more prosperous for everyone!

Ready, Set, Tip!

For those of you lucky enough to be in stable financial condition, these tips are meant for you!  We canvassed friends and family in major cities across the country to see what the standard tipping range is for the most common services.   *REMEMBER, whenever you give a tip or a gift, accompany it with a card! Cards give you a chance to express your appreciation while reminding the person who the gift is from!

The Nanny

2 weeks pay is a customary holiday bonus – and yes, that is in addition to time off (even if you decide to take a last minute holiday family vacation)!  The fact that your nanny continues to receive her salary while you are on vacation is not a substitute for a cash bonus.  Neither is the fact that you may have generously given them hand me down designer bags, etc. during the year. That sort of generosity is of course fabulous, but not a substitute for a proper cash bonus. This person is in charge of taking care of the most important people in your life – your kids! Showing how much you appreciate them is essential.

The Babysitters

For a babysitter you use on a regular basis, one night’s pay seems standard among people we polled – of course this amount will vary greatly on where you live and how much you pay an hour!

Teachers & Day Care Providers

Emily Post says that giving teachers a non- cash gifts from both you and your child is the way to go – but we disagree.  With the often paltry amount teachers & day care providers get paid, most teachers I asked said they WAY prefer a cash (or cash equivalent) gift.  Gift cards are a fantastic way to show your appreciation.  Accompany your gift with a homemade treat from your kids, and you will have made one teacher very happy!

The amount you give will of course depend on what you can afford.  Many people we polled suggested a gift in the range of $50-$100 for the head teacher, and a smaller gift for any assistant teachers.  Even if your price range is in the $5-$10- go for the practical gift – a Starbucks gift card or something that will actually save them out of pocket cash will always be appreciated!

The School Security Guard

I know… It’s such a sign of the times that most schools have armed security guards.  Not only are they keeping our schools safe, but many of them are the welcomers that help start out kids days off wit a smile.  Depending how many guards you have to tip, $20-$30 – cash or gift card – is the going rate!