Search Results for: blog after christmas green living

No More Color-Coordinated Christmas Trees for Me

When my kids were little, my Christmas decorating was what I would call “eclectic.” This was mostly because a lot of what I had in the way of decorations were hand-me-downs. So I made due with what I had. One of my favorite things to decorate was the Christmas tree. There were the “special” ornaments that went up every year…baby’s first Christmas ornaments, our wedding ornament and then all the homemade ones from my children. At some point, my Christmas decorating began to change. Suddenly I wanted things to match. I wanted my tree to have the same colors as … Continue reading →

Christmas Tree Traditions

If your family celebrates Christmas, chances are that your family photo albums have many pictures of your family’s Christmas trees throughout the years. Each family that gets a Christmas tree for their home every year has a slightly different ritual for doing so, too. When I was younger, my parents would usually get a tree in mid – November. We had a wood stove in the room where we would put the tree, so getting it earlier was not really an option because the stove would dry the tree out and result in needles all over the floor. Some years … Continue reading →

The Day After Thanksgiving Part II

All of our Christmas treasures were packed neatly and carefully away last year with anticipation for the Christmas seasons to follow. Inside were coordinating red, green, and gold globes, snowflakes, and bird ornaments; along with strings of lights, festive garlands, personalized stockings, gift boxes, wrapping paper, ribbon, and stocking holders. Given our new and different space and layout, the decorating will require some creative ingenuity. Without a fireplace and mantel, we will have to find a different location to hang the stockings and the garland. Our living room is much smaller so we were mindful not to get a tree … Continue reading →

Green Musicians – Bob Geldof

Back in the early 80’s, I knew of Bob Geldof for only one reason – he was the lead singer of the Boomtown Rats. The one single I remember from them was “I Don’t Like Mondays,” which Geldof wrote after Brenda Ann Spencer opened fire on an elementary school in San Diego in 1979. Geldof would later organize events that would make him well known around the world. In 1984, Geldof teamed up with Midge Ure of Ultravox to write the song “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” The song was written in reference to the people of Ethiopia who were … Continue reading →

Green Resolutions – Part 2

The other day, I blogged about some green resolutions you could make to help better yourself and the world. Here are a few more suggestions. And, if you think it is too late to make a New Year’s resolution (today is the 5th after all), just remember it is never too late to go green! It is now easier than ever to go organic. Many grocery stores offer organically certified items and they are becoming more reasonably priced. Shop the local farmer’s market for delicious, locally grown fruits and veggies. And, don’t forget to try to go meatless at least … Continue reading →

How to Have a Green New Year’s Party

Ringing in the New Year does not have to mean an excess of waste and environmental impact. With a little bit of planning, you can enjoy a great party and be responsible at the same time. Here are some thoughts about how to have a green New Year’s Eve party. Champagne Flutes Whether you opt for real champagne or sparkling cider, avoid the plastic champagne flutes. Not only are they pretty tacky, but they also negatively impact the planet. Real flutes aren’t much more money, especially if you buy them at Overstock.com or Amazon.com in bulk. Plus, you’ll have them … Continue reading →

After Christmas Green Living

The stockings have been hung. The carols have been sung. The Christmas tree has been decorated and admired, and the presents have been opened. What you do with all of it in the days after the holiday can make and impact on the Earth. Here are some tips for after Christmas green living. Non LED Christmas Lights You purchased all new eco-friendly LED lights. But now what do you do with the old ones. Throwing them away is not a good idea. Recycling these lights properly is the way to go. There are two services that will do this for … Continue reading →

Decorating the Christmas Tree

We finally got our Christmas tree on Thursday. Because it’s a real tree and summer here in Australia we can’t afford to buy the tree too early. A week is about right. Given the cost of them this year, possibly because of the drought that covers 80 percent of Australia, it’s a smaller tree than usual. Couldn’t justify the extra expense to get a bigger one. Anyway, it’s still got that Christmas tree smell. Putting the Christmas tree up turned into a funny exercise with Mick a screwing the screw into the stand while I held the tree firmly. Meanwhile, … Continue reading →

Care and Feeding of a Live Christmas Tree

Live Christmas trees are becoming more and more popular as people become more environmentally conscious. Live Christmas trees are sold with the root ball in tact to be used as Christmas trees for the holiday and to then be planted afterward. Instead of paying for a tree dispose of after the holidays and then buying a new tree to plant for the year, homeowners can kill two birds with one stone with the purchase of a live Christmas tree. When choosing a live Christmas tree, be sure to consider what evergreen trees will grow well where you live. Also, avoid … Continue reading →

Fake Christmas Tree or Real Christmas Tree?

If you are trying to adopt a green lifestyle, you may find yourself conflicted when thinking about Christmas trees. What should you do? Is purchasing an artificial tree and reusing it year after year more eco-friendly than using a real tree each year? Below are a list of pros and cons for both artificial and real Christmas trees. Artificial Pros: – New artificial trees are looking more and more realistic every year. – Some artificial trees come with snow and pre-lit lights, so they can be time-savers too. – Artificial trees are more convenient than real trees. – Artificial trees … Continue reading →