Talking Orange Garlands, Family Traditions, and DIY Coffee Scrubs with Abigail Mary Green

No one knows eco-friendly holidays better than Colorado lover and resident like lifestyle creator, Abigail Green. 

We checked in with Abigail about her eco-friendly tips and tricks around the holidays. And we couldn’t let her go without her magical Maple Spice Cloud Coffee & Vanilla + Sugar Coffee Scrub recipes. Check out these Holiday-ready DIYs on our Instagram now! 

Keep reading to see Abigail’s full recipes. Shop her Public Goods ingredients & essentials here!

Holidays are a perfect time for us to get creative around eco-friendlier alternatives as we prepare gifts, entertain friends, etc.! How did you use Public Goods’ items to incorporate sustainability and upcycling in your DIY?

We go through coffee like crazy in the Green house which means a lot of coffee grounds. I love making my own household & skincare products so I upcycled Public Goods coffee grounds into one of my favorite recipes…vanilla sugar scrub! 

Instead of buying wrapping paper or a gift bag, I wrapped the jars of sugar scrub in the Ayate natural fiber washcloths, used the twine (that the label was attached with) and added a sprig of fresh garland that we had on hand! 

Are there any traditions + rituals you have with yourself, friends, or family that make the holidays extra special?

Yes! We live in Colorado where you can chop down your own tree from the forest (with a $15 permit) so we always grab lattes and pastries from a local coffee shop, then cut down our own tree in early December with friends. We also eat our family’s Corn and Shrimp Chowder recipe every Christmas Eve and watch fun holiday movies the whole week leading up to Christmas. 

Any sustainable or eco-friendly tips on making your home feel warm and inviting for the holidays? Are there any new practices you’ve adopted or traditions that you’ve opted out of?

We always use trimmings from our tree to decorate the house! I love scattering the evergreen sprigs on shelves, doorways, and across the kitchen island. I also love to roll my own beeswax candles and light them once the sun says goodnight. Making orange garland is another eco-friendly way to decorate! I like to simmer some of the orange peels with cinnamon sticks on our stovetop for the most magical holiday scents and then compost the baked oranges when it’s time to take them down. 

One of the easiest ways to go more sustainable this season is to wrap your gifts with things you have on hand, whether it be brown packaging from a box, a linen bag from another product you saved, or even old fabric you have on hand! I started doing this a few years ago and it’s been so much fun! Your gifts are guaranteed to look much prettier than store bought gift-wrapping options.

The holidays can be such a stressful, busy time! How are you planning to rest, recharge, and re-energize during this season?

That’s the truuuuuth! I’m taking a couple weeks off of social media so that will be nice to unplug, rest and savor time with loved ones. In addition, with the cold evenings and sun setting so early, I fully lean into cozy nights—going to bed early always rejuvenates me. 

Abigail: We would love to see your full coffee and coffee scrub recipes from your Holiday DIY! Could you please share with us?

Of course!

Maple Spice Cloud Coffee

Ingredients:

Public Goods ground coffee 

¼ cup cream (heavy cream or half & half)

1 teaspoon Public Goods maple syrup

A few dashes of Public Goods cinnamon

Directions:

1. Brew coffee to your desired strength in a french press! Pour it into your desired mug. 
2. Rinse the french press out then add about 1/4 cup of cream (heavy cream or half & half). Add maple syrup and cinnamon, then plunge up and down until the cream starts to thicken into foam. 
3. Pour the desired amount of maple spice foam into your coffee! 

DIY Holiday Gift: Vanilla Sugar + Coffee Scrub

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup Public Goods dried coffee grounds

1/2 cup Public Goods brown sugar

4 tablespoon Public Goods coconut oil

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Spread out your leftover coffee grounds on parchment paper. Set the grounds outside in the sun or bake at 200°F until they are fully dried.
2. Add the coffee, sugar, and vanilla to a medium size bowl and mix well. 
3. Add the coconut oil and mash to combine with the back of a fork. Stir until mixed into a paste/scrub consistency. 
4. Store in an air-tight container. Use a couple times a week in the shower for softer skin! 

Fun tip: skip the wrapping paper and store-bought bags and wrap your gifts in something reusable instead! I used a natural fiber washcloth, twine, and a little sprig of garland