Search Results for: blog im dreaming of a green christmas part 1

Poetry for Kids

Roses are red Some orchids are green I love you so much Except when you’re mean I wrote that little ditty when I was in the fourth grade. I’m a poet, and ya didn’t even know it! Unfortunately, poetry is not fully embraced by the American school system. Consequently, many youngsters these days don’t get the chance to fully appreciate the many benefits of metrical composition. According to top researchers for early childhood education, “poetry should be included as an integral part of the language and literacy curriculum because it enriches students’ lives as they discover words, sound, and rhythm … Continue reading →

Quick Green Living Tips for Christmas

Do you want to know what you can do during the holidays to be more environmentally responsible, but you don’t want to slug through a bunch of explanations on why you should or how you should? Take a look at the following simple green living tips that you can practice this Christmas season. Recycle your gift wrap. Reuse your gift wrap. Make your own gift wrap from cloth bags, newspaper or paper bags. Buy a locally grown Christmas tree. Recycle your cut tree. Buy a living tree that can be replanted. You can also rent a living tree. This is … Continue reading →

Top 10 Must Visit Green Web Sites

Want to learn more about being green, whether it is at home steps you can take to make the world a better place, organizations that are monitoring the world’s practices, or preventing animal extinction? It is easy as a touch of the fingertips with these incredible websites: 10. Greenpeace Even people who don’t know much about going green have probably heard of Greenpeace. They have been trying to protect and conserve the environment for almost 40 years. 9. Going Green (TIME) TIME has devoted a section of its main web page to green issues. Weekly articles are posted on such … Continue reading →

I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas – Part 2

In my last blog, I had already ventured into the green Christmas territory. I know some are thinking, “Oh no, not Christmas stuff already!” but for others, such as a few of my relatives, Christmas cannot get here soon enough. Here are a few more ideas for greening up your Christmas (and I don’t mean with garland!): Here’s an idea that might be hard to grasp – don’t buy gifts just for the sake of buying them. It seems as if most of us have way more than we need anyhow, so if you want to show appreciation this holiday, … Continue reading →

I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas – Part 1

You may think it is a bit early to be thinking about Christmas, but I noticed garland hanging at my local Hallmark last night. This year, instead of having a white or blue Christmas, how about having a green Christmas? First, let’s think about the Christmas tree. Many plastic trees are made from PVC, the product that many are telling us to avoid for safety reasons. This year, you may want to consider a fresh cut Christmas tree. Make it a fun family tradition by going out to chop down your own tree. Sure, it will probably take a bit … Continue reading →

Extreme Pets! – Jane Harrington

If you have an animal lover in the family, or if your family is considering a new pet, pick up a copy of Extreme Pets! by Jane Harrington. The book is loaded with marvelous color photographs. While Extreme Pets! makes owning these unique pets look very exciting, it also deals with the realities of cage cleaning and costs. The book also emphasizes responsible pet ownership. The book starts with a pet pact – making sure that the owner knows they are responsible for special feeding, care, safety, potential allergies, and medical care. Extreme Pets! is wire bound, which makes the … Continue reading →

Home Week in Review: Nov. 26 – Dec. 2

Thanksgiving has come and gone and we have moved right into winter and Christmas. Here are this week’s articles at a glance: Remove Musty Smells Do you have some old furniture that has been stored too long in a basement or garage? It happens to the best of us… Household Germs: Try this Hand-washing Test Are you sure your hands are really clean? Dreaming of a Green Christmas? Some environmentally friendly ideas instead of wasted packing materials… More Ways to Recycle for the Holidays More ways to use stuff you already have around the house… Fighting Soap Scum Who doesn’t … Continue reading →

Re-gifting and Re-using

Many people shy away from re-gifting after having heard horror stories of giving a gift back to the original giver. However, with care you don’t have to end up embarrassed. You can also do “partial” re-gifting. If you or your kids received one of those large popcorn tins with a holiday scene on it, you can re-use it once the popcorn is gone to package another gift. It will work great as packaging for a fragile item, with a little filler inside to help protect the gift. On the other hand, you could use it for one of Mary Ann’s … Continue reading →

Dreaming of a Green Christmas?

Can we go green for Christmas? There are some environmentally friendly ways to prepare for the holidays. One really good way to do so is by recycling things you have around the house as you package gifts for shipping. Start by using boxes you have instead of purchasing new boxes for shipping. Then, try these tips: Plastic Grocery Bags Use clean plastic grocery bags between items in a shipping box to cushion gifts and keep them from bouncing around. Bunch them up and stuff all the empty spaces full to help protect gifts and keep wrapping from becoming damaged, as … Continue reading →