Does anyone have any tips for hosting a plastic-free baby shower?

Name: Becca Ryals and Gordon Bennett

Week: 13

Location: California, United States

Personal Info:

We are two grad students in the environmental sciences living in Berkeley with two cats.

Becca Ryals and Gordon Bennett’s personal blog: http://becca.posterous.com/

Total items: 8

Total weight: 3.55 ounces

Items: Recyclable
two odwalla bottles. caps will be sent to http://www.capscando.org (new)

one cap from glass bottle of vanilla extract (old)

Items: Nonrecyclable
two wrappers from crackers (new)

one window envelope (new)

q-tip box (old)

plastic garbage bags (scavenged litter)

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
Cracker wrappers – we got these when we hosted a party and neglected to let our guests know about our plastic challenge.

odwalla bottles – gifted to me by a generous post doc in a neighboring lab who left them for me in my lab when I was out.

vanilla – my friend taught me how to make my own vanilla

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
q-tips – we don’t use these very often. this giant box lasts a couple years.

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
plastic bag – I use old plastic bags for cat litter because flushing and composting are not options where I currently live. Previously, I would go to the store intentionally without my reusable bags so that I could get free plastic bags. Now, I just collect them when I see them on the streets, sidewalks, and grass. I try to pick up litter when I see it anyway. Now, I am using it before I toss it.

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
Almost all of my “new” plastic was given to us. The party-related plastics can easily be avoided. I still need to work on explaining the importance of living without plastics without insulting them and their generous intention.

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
q-tips and plastic gifts

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?
I am still amazed at how much plastic is still in my house after 13 weeks.