Throwing 'Green' Summer Parties

Most of us usually don't think about recycling when we're entertaining.

But Tuesday's installment of The Early Show series "Culinary Inspirations" proves it's possible to have fun and save the planet, too.

Activist and stylist Danny Seo stops by to share many of the environmentally-friendly suggestions from his new book, "Simply Green Parties." It shows you can think of Mother Earth and be chic at the same time.

Seo is an environmental activist who promotes eco-friendly lifestyles that can still be stylish. He's frequently been called the "green Martha Stewart."

Seo assists some of Hollywood's biggest celebrities as an "eco-stylist," dressing actors in environmentally friendly fashion, consulting on the renovation of their homes, and helping them raise money for their eco-charities.

His main theme is that people should constantly re-think how to use everyday objects. The uses may be unusual, but that's where creativity kicks in.

"Simply Green Parties" is the first of a how-to series Seo is working on. The book is printed on recycled paper and doesn't have a dust jacket. All the pictures in the book were taken digitally, and the props were made from organic materials or from thrift shops. Nothing brand-new was purchased for the book.

It's filled with resourceful, innovative ideas that are environmentally-friendly, useful and easy to carry out. It offers eco-friendly and creative ways to throw a great party or get-together. Most of the ideas in the book involve things you already have around the house.

"Simply Green Parties" has chapters on dinners under the stars, baby showers, housewarmings, birthday parties, winter warm-up parties and "summer sizzlers."

Seo describes "eco-entertaining" as using things for parties or get-togethers that are either recycled or biodegradable, instead of things that are used once and thrown. For example: using Twizzlers with the ends cut off, instead of straws. The idea is to reuse things in a creative and perhaps untraditional way.

Among Seo's suggestions for summer soirees:

NATURALLY FLAVORED WATER

Drinking plain old water can become boring after awhile. Seo has a fun way to add a little kick and flavor to a plain bottle of water by using real fruits, herbs and vegetables. Cut strips of cucumber, apple, or sprigs of mint and insert into bottles or pitchers of water. Chill for an hour or so in the refrigerator or freezer to let the flavors develop. You can even use grapefruit, peaches, limes and lemons instead. Seo recommends one fruit per bottle and using bottled water in glass containers, as opposed to plastic.

SIMPLY GREEN "COOKING": HEALTHY FROZEN TREATS

Kids love ice pops in summer, but they tend to be loaded with sugar and artificial flavoring. Seo gives an easy way to make healthy pops. All you need to start is an ice-pop mold set. They're available at any cooking supply store. You also need some wooden sticks. Fill the molds with vitamin-fortified flavored waters or electrolyte-filled sports drinks. You can even add a drop of vitamin B-12 if you want more natural energy. Insert the wooden sticks and freeze overnight. Seo loves using vitamin water along with a drop of the B-12.

For more of Seo's ideas, see Page 2.FANCY, ECO-DISPOSABLE PLATES

Using real plates is always the best option, but it's not always possible. Many paper plates found in supermarkets are made from recycled materials. Some are made from Recycline, which is made from recycled yogurt cups. Some are from Bambu and made from bamboo, which looks like wood. Recycled plates tend to look plain and Seo shows a simple and fun way to dress them up. Use hole punchers of various shapes and sizes to create patterns around the edges of the plates. Alternate a large hole with a smaller one as you go around the plate. You can use stars, hearts and any other shape you like to decorate your eco-friendly dinnerware. Recycled paper towels can be made into pretty napkins by using a hole puncher as well. Another stylish option is using Bambu plates/bowls: They look like wood, but are made from sustainable bamboo, a renewable, fast-growing grass.

DRINKING STRAW ALTERNATIVE

Plastic drinking straws can take hundreds of years to biodegrade. Seo offers a better and tastier alternative: Twizzler straws. Take Twizzlers candy, snip off the ends, insert into cup and drink. It's that simple. Serve them in tall glasses with spiked punch, or whatever beverage you desire. These are great for children's parties, because kids can eat the straws after they finish their drinks! Twizzlers come in a variety of flavors, so you can try any of these combinations: chocolate Twizzlers with chocolate or regular milk, strawberry Twizzlers with strawberry milk, or licorice-flavored Twizzlers with Sambuca, for adults.

TWIG CORN-ON-THE-COB HOLDERS
Who needs fancy corn-on-the-cob holders? Why not use twigs instead? Clip fresh twigs from trees, and sharpen the ends in a pencil sharpener. Insert the twigs into the ends of the corn and grill them up.

SHOPPING-BAG BASKETS

A simple shopping bag can easily be recycled into a charming paper basket. Choose small, colorful paper bags and snip the left and right top corners out of the bag; leave a strip about an inch wide, and the middle intact. Use double-stick tape or glue to attach the two tabs together to make a handle. Place small containers inside the bag (used plastic deli containers, for example), fill with water, and arrange some fresh flowers. Choose flowers and greenery that complement the colors of the bag.

TRIPLE-DISH CANDLEHOLDER

Seo transforms glass trifle stands into candleholders. Simply purchase four individual glass candle holders from a home-decor store, insert white candles, and place them inside the trifle dish. The candles will burn inside the dish and cast a romantic glow throughout the room. Seo suggests using natural wax candles, which are much better for the environment then traditional candles, which are petroleum-based. Natural wax candles emit 95 percent less soot and pollutants into the air and burn up to 50 percent longer. They also hold onto the essential oil scent better.

SEO'S TIPS ON SAVING MONEY WHEN BUYING ORGANIC:

1) Sign up for a shopper's-club savings card.
2) Buy store brands.
3) Search the Web for better deals.
4) Buy things in bulk.

To read an excerpt of "Simply Green Parties, click here.