Free Gift Tags

Though most cards now are photo cards, each year we do get some beautiful Christmas cards. After the season has come and gone, I hate to throw them away. One, because they aren't recyclable and two, because they're gorgeous. The cards from last year have found new life this year as photo tags.

By cutting off the side with the writing, punching a hole in the decorative side and adding a ribbon (from last year of course), a gift tag has been born. Just add your message to the back.

You can do the same thing with old file folders being tossed at work. Corporate discards are the best-FREE and oh so plentiful. A pair of crazy scissors gives these a decorative edge. Use your imagination, put your kids to work drawing, and save yourself the time and money buying gift tags.


An Easy go Green!

Cards also make great ornaments. Follow the instructions above and hang it on the tree!

Eco Friendly Photos

"ooo", "aahhhh", "Oh my gosh, look how big they are!" It's that season when we're about to be bombarded with an array of photos from everyone from our relatives to the co-worker we just met once in a sales meeting. What to do with all those photos once we've oohed and ahhed? Nothing my friend. Unfortunately photo paper cannot be recycled and must be relocated to the trash bin. Curses! Our family hadn't sent photos out it years and though I wanted to keep the friends and family up to date with our ever growing kids, I did not want to add to the Earth's environmental demise.

Alas an option. My solution? I printed small snapshot sized photos on our printer. Six printed on each sheet so for the 80 some odd cards we've sent so far, that's only 14 sheets of paper. They're color photos so obviously ink was used but because the photos are smaller in size (3x4) they didn't require a lot. The photos are still large enough for even Granny to see who we are.

Best of all, they are completely recyclable! This, combined with eco-friendly cards and we're sending green holiday wishes from coast to coast.

Christmas Tree Skirt

Martha Stewart I am not, but I can sew a straight line...or semi-straight. Fortunately that's all I needed for this project. A friend in the interior design industry had a bunch of old upholstery fabric samples she was getting rid of. They were gorgeous but small.

What to do with them??? Then it hit me! We'd been using an old bed sheet as a tree skirt all these years.

I started sewing these pieces together until I had a long strip, enough to go around the tree. How long is that? When it's getting irritating to manage around the sewing machine. Then after making three of these long sections, I sewed those together. Remember, put them face to face while sewing. I forgot the first time and had to undo all my stitching and start over-NOT fun. Finally, with some encouragement from Katey next door it was done and ready to adorn the bottom of our tree.

An Advanced Easy Go Green

Eco Friendly Christmas Cards

You can imagine my thrill to find these Christmas cards made of 50% sugar cane and 50% recycled paper! And I quote the package, "NO new trees were used in the making of these cards". Of course they can be recycled and in addition, were made right here in the USA keeping petroleum use for shipping at a minimum. Thank you Hallmark for providing an environmentally responsible option for sending holiday wishes.
If you don't see environmentally friendly cards at your favorite store, ask and let it be known the demand for responsible products is growing quickly.

For those of you who've already mailed your cards, keep an eye out for after Christmas sales. I'll let you in on secret; I bought these cards last January in packs of 12 for $1.00!!! It's always easier to be green if you save some green.

To see environmentally friendly options for the cards you receive this year.

Healthy Holiday Eating

As we head into the holidays, visions of chocolate things dance in my head!

With the office holiday party in the works, relatives heading into town, and the season of feasting about to begin, here are some tips to help you make healthier choices. Come New Year’s, you’ll thank me.

Read Labels-As The Everyday Organic, the very first lesson I teach my clients is to read labels. When you grocery shop, take a few seconds to turn the package over and read what’s in it. Are the ingredients hard to pronounce? How long is the list? The more confusing, the less likely you'd want to be putting that in your body. Avoid foods with artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. When it comes to poultry and dairy products, opt for hormone and antibiotic free. As far as beef, ideally, cows are supposed to eat grass. If you can purchase grass fed beef, you’re doing your body a favor. It has less fat and more omega fatty acids than grain fed beef. Well worth the money when healthy eating is concerned.

Better Choices do make a difference- Our foods today are riddled with artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners. However, when at the mercy of someone else’s hosting, you can’t always make a perfect choice and you certainly won’t want to appear rude. Here’s the time you need to remember that better choices do make a difference. Try to pass on the casseroles and dips and instead opt for the simplest foods possible. Do your best to choose “clean” simple foods. This will help you leave that bloated “I ate to much” feeling behind.

BYO (and they think their generation invented the text lingo)-You never know what Aunt Sally might be serving this year and who knows what will show up at the neighborhood New Year’s Party. Save yourself the frustration and bring a dish you know you’ll love and be able to enjoy confidently. How about some chocolate chip muffins with flax seed? They’re actually good for you. On the appetizer side, fresh spinach leaves blended in a food processor with avocadoes and some lime juice makes a fabulously healthy chip or veggie dip. The spinach helps stretch the avocado and adds a bright green hue for the holidays. Crock Pot Chicken Wings are always a crowd favorite and good for game day too.

Drink Water-We’ve heard it before; water helps flush excess fat and toxins out of our body. So in the rush, rush of all the holiday errands and gift wrapping, don’t forget to tote that water bottle with you.