don't be tempted to overindulge!

Hanukkah has begun, and Christmas and Kwanzaa are only days away.  Gifts, family, good food and sparkling lights are tokens of the holiday season, but so is the reality of unwanted weight gain.  During the holidays many people find themselves immersed in family activities and surrounded by rich homemade dishes and treats.  It’s hard to keep up a healthy lifestyle during a season when we celebrate all the good things that we have.  The year is coming to a close and soon we will be heading into 2012 with every intention to trim our waistlines.  To avoid the regret that can come with the holiday weight gain, here are some tips from GreenCupboards.com to help you keep up with a healthy lifestyle during the holidays.

Drink lots of water:  Hot chocolate, warm buttered rum, peppermint mochas, and apple cider are all traditional treats during the holiday season.  Keep in mind that they are just that: a treat.  There’s no shame in indulging your taste buds with a warm cup of cocoa, but limit splurging.  To stay hydrated, keep a BPA free water bottle handy.  Need something warm?  Add a tea bag to your water. Studies have shown that green tea can increase your body’s ability to metabolize fat.

Go for a walk: Whether you’re driving or flying to your holiday destination, your legs will appreciate a good stretch.  Hectic holiday situations that increase stress may be diffused by taking a quick break.  Go for a walk around the block, to a nearby park, or look at the holiday decorations in town.  Need some one on one time with a loved one?  Bring them along and check out the holiday lights in your neighborhood.

Small plates and portions:   Often holiday weight gain is caused not by what you eat, but by how much.  There’s no use refusing a slice of grandma’s pie, so instead insist on a small portion.  If you’re craving something it’s better to eat a little bit rather than try to satisfy your craving by filling up on “healthier” options.  At parties use the smallest plates and allow yourself small portions.

Active family bonding: Although it’s nice to stay warm and cozy inside, there are lots of fun activities waiting in the winter wonderland.  Instead of settling in for a board game, suggest a family snowball fight, build a snow fort or a snowman, go skiing, sledding, or snowboarding.  No snow this holiday season?  Try a family game of football, tag, or go for a bike ride.

Manage your time: Eat regularly!  The one for sure way to overindulge at the neighbor’s party is to go without a decent meal all day.  Although there doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day, the two major causes of weight gain during the holiday season are lack of sleep and skipping meals.  Eat a small meal or salad before heading to a holiday party, and try to get in some time to relax and catch some Z’s.

Wishing you happy holiday’s from the GreenCupboards.com team!

Images:

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20307175_5,00.html

http://justlikegrams.blogspot.com/2010/11/christmas-baking-anyone.html

The Grinch and Max have joined our Marketing team

The GreenCupboards.com team decided to participate in some healthy Holiday competition this year! Our four offices faced off to have the best (and greenest) holiday decorations. Winners we placed according to the categories of “Best Overall Design,” “Most Creative,” and “Most Eco-Friendly.” Here’s the Dr. Seuss inspired tale:

The Holiday Season comes but once a year.
With all the green in GreenCupboards the Who’s in the office thought the Grinch would come here!
Preparation began as we hustled and bustled to the shopping marts,
With hope and spirit we plotted to load up our carts.
With packaged candy and gift wrap, lights and Styrofoam stars,
Then a voice spoke out and an email was sent,
Dan the data team man sent out a cry of lament.
“I know the holidays will soon be here,
A mere 23 days (who’s counting?) but something is wrong I fear,
Instead of buying more holiday stuff,
And then tossing it in the trash as useless fluff,
It might be fun to thwart holiday gloom
By using recycled goods to decorate the room!”
The Who’s of the office looked at one another,
And then smiled at their hopeful Data Team brother.
They got work and soon found out,
That sparkly new products is not what the holiday season is about.
Mitchell from Listings brought in old Santa’s galore,
While Dan and Alex made snowflakes and more!
Lauren strung popcorn garland from wall to wall,
While Sarah and Ciera used old materials to make lollipops to cover the hall.
The GreenCupboards team got to work and soon found out,
That sparkly new products are not what the holidays are about.
And the Grinch?
He came in the door hoping to play,
But seeing our commitment to green he decided to stay.
We hope to spread our holiday cheer this season,
And if you want to recycle here’s a good reason:
GreenCupboards has transformed in the matter of a week,
And now its heart has grown three times its size and is not nearly so meek.

Happy Holidays!  For more photos of our competition click here!

Green Cooking

The Holiday season can bring out some of the best foods that haven’t been tasted since last year. If you’re planning on spending a lot of time in the kitchen this holiday season then you might just benefit from these tips to keep your kitchen green. The kitchen is infamous for creating unnecessary waste in the form of packaging and left over food. These tips should help you reduce, reuse and recycle as much as you can in the kitchen.

1: Reuse Packaging- Jars and bags that are used to hold food items can often be repurposed after there original use is done. If you don’t already have a re-useable shopping bag you should invest in one or you can simply keep on using the bags that the store gives you. The bags used for fruits and vegetables can certainly be reused as sandwich/ lunch bags. Check out how you can make a snow globe out of your old jars with this GreenCupboards.com video:

http://www.youtube.com/user/MrGreencupboards?feature=guide#p/u/4/N97t2gPPwX8

2: Compost Waste: If you don’t have a compost bin you should start one either on your own or in your neighborhood. Composting is a great way to not only reduce waste but also create great fertilizer. If you’re a beginner to composting and don’t know where to start this GreenCupboards.com article may be able to help you out: http://community.greencupboards.com/2011/08/09/how-to-compost/

3: Clean Green: Cleaning green is a specialty for GreenCupboards.com. When our company started out we only sold household cleaning items. GreenCupboards.com has since moved on to sell a wider array of products but household cleaning will always be a priority. Did you know that indoor air can often be more polluted than outdoor air thanks to the toxic ingredients used in some cleaning solutions? GreenCupboards.com screens our products ingredients to make sure we’re

providing the greenest clean around. Browse GreenCupboards.com cleaning kitchen page to see for yourself: http://www.greencupboards.com/home-outdoor/cleaning-laundry-supplies.html?cat=40

4: Buy Local: Buying local supports your community and reduces pollution by cutting back the amount of distance traveled to get to you. Whenever possible you should strive to buy locally especially for agricultural, meat, and dairy products.

5: Buy Bulk: Buying bulk can save you money and packaging. If you’re lucky enough to live near a Co-op like Winco then this tip can really help you out because you can fill your own bags with exactly how much you need and reduce waste. Just make sure when you’re buying in bulk that you don’t overbuy and have things left unopened when their expiration date rolls around.

I hope these tips have been helpful to those of you will have a full house and busy kitchen this Holiday season.

Image: http://www.theevergreenhome.com/servlet/the-125/organic-green-tea-japanese/Detail

Make your own bags from old t-shirts!

Santa is at the mall and he’ll be coming down our chimney’s soon!  Until that time, why not pick up new habits to make the world a greener place during this holiday season.  Here are some ideas for inspiration!

Recycle your packaging!

Save your boxes and gift bags from previous holiday events and reuse, reuse, reuse!  Instead of packing all that bright tissue paper into the trash bag hide it in the back of your closet for next year!  Need more ideas? Look here!

Experiment with new transportation!

Bike, Walk, or Bus to where you need to go!  Despite rain, sleet, and snow many members of the GreenCupboards.com staff still pedal to work during these months.  If weather permits we like to save some gas and get some fresh air.  It’s good for us and the planet!

Try reusable bags!

As you load up on groceries, goodies, and gifts be sure to gather your purchases in reusable bags!  Every year over 1 trillion plastic bags are used.  Do your part to cut that number down!

Support Eco-businesses!

Working together is at the core of keeping our world green.  Support local businesses or organizations that practice green habits, provide funding for green initiatives, or include being green in their mission.

Encourage your friends!

The holidays are a time to be with the people you love.  Spend time with friends making eco-friendly decorations or shopping online! Your good habits will encourage them to be conscious of our effect on the planet!

Happy Holidays!

Sources:

http://www.reuseit.com/learn-more/top-facts/plastic-bag-facts

Images:

http://blog.airdye.com/goodforwater/2010/07/16/dont-recycle-that-plastic-bag/

http://www.metaefficient.com/bicycles/top-cities-winter-bicycle-commuting.html

Tis the season for Eggnog!

When snow flurries fly outside, I find myself drawn to a local coffee shop where there is no shortage of good company, soothing atmosphere, and hot drinks galore!  Although many coffee drinks have been garnished to fit the holiday season, I was curious as to what people really think of when they begin to crave seasonal drinks. After some subtle investigation, the GreenCupboards.com team has voiced their orders and I would like to offer some delicious recommendations.

According to our office survey, Hot Chocolate is by far the most popular holiday drink.  Some suggested variations include adding marshmallows, whipped cream, and various kinds of peppermint flavoring.

In a close second, our office noted Eggnog as worthy of holiday drink recognition.  Whether it’s straight up or iced, this has proven to be is the perfect winter treat.  For a bubbly infusion, our Marketing Coordinator suggests a balanced mix of eggnog and Sprite!

Many variations of apple cider are known and loved among the GreenCupboards.com team.  Most popular are the drink of Yule known as Wassail, Carmel Apple Cider and the Apple Chai Infusion.

If none of these suggestions strike your fancy, we suggest a Hot Toddy, White Russian, Martinelli’s Apple Cider, Hot Buttered Rum, or spiced wine.

Enjoy!

We’d love to hear your holiday season drink suggestions! Click here to share your favorite drink.

Images:

http://www.visualphotos.com/image/2×2699741/cup_of_hot_chocolate_with_marshmallows

http://thejournal-postman.blogspot.com/2011/01/dearth-of-eggnog.html

GreenCupboards.com offers a wide variety of products ranging from dreadlock starter kits to electric bikes and wind turbines. Here is a top ten list of GreenCupboards more unusual items:

1: Dreadlock Starter Kit: http://www.greencupboards.com/knotty-boy-dreadlock-starter-kit-dark-misc.html

Getting bored of the “normal” hairdo? Why not try dreads? The Dreadlock starter kit includes everything you will need to get your dreads started: wax, soap, comb and brochure.

2: Robomow: http://www.greencupboards.com/robomow-rl-2000-robomow.html

Tired of mowing your lawn? Why not have a robot do it for you? Robomow will mow your lawn for you so you can sit back and relax with a lemonade. Robomow can mow lawns up to 17,200 square feet and the mulch produced is a great fertilizer.

3: Obama Air Force 1: http://www.greencupboards.com/holgate-toys-air-force-one-obama.html

A soon to be collectors item this wood Air Force One celebrates the inauguration of the 44^th President of the United States. This wood airplane is complete with a silkscreened image of our president on the tail.

4: Miniature Ecosystem: http://www.greencupboards.com/brands/blue-iq/blueiq-miniature-ecosystem-pack-of-15-30486.html

Want a fancy new addition to your home office or possibly dorm room? The GreenCupboards.com ecosystem may be just what you need. The ecosystem is not only aesthetically pleasing but also educational as you can see on a small scale how real life ecosystems work. This miniature ecosystem includes shrimp, snails, plants and substrate.

5: Electric Bike: http://www.greencupboards.com/brands/currie-technologies/currie-tech-women-s-trailz-electric-bike-red.html

Need a little help up the hill? Try using an electric bike. These bikes have motors, which can give you a little boost when you need it, but leave you with the option to turn it off when you don’t.

6: Sun Oven: http://www.greencupboards.com/sun-oven-global-sun-oven.html

The sun is the most enjoyable of all the known renewable cooking fuels. It rises every morning and is free. Sun Ovens enable the sun to bake, boil and steam a wide variety of food while enhancing the taste and benefiting the environment.

7: Pool Cleaner: http://www.greencupboards.com/floatron-natural-pool-cleaner-algae-free-no-chemicals-toy.html

Have do you have a pool in sunlight? If yes, then you might be interested in using the Floatron a solar powered pool cleaner. Floatron can clean a pool of up to 40,000 gallons and it does it without chemicals. Floatron cleans your pool using mineral ions.

8: Sea Scooter: http://www.greencupboards.com/x-treme-scooters-x-160-dual-speed-electric-sea-scooter.html

There is no need to swim with the Sea Scooter, just grab on and hold tight. The Sea Scooter can dive down 100 feet. Sea Scooter is the only underwater scooter with an all metal gearing system so it is built to last.

9: Wind Turbine: http://www.greencupboards.com/brands/sunforce/sunforce-whisper-100-900-watts.html

Interested in harnessing your own power? How about a wind turbine? Carbon fiber blades allow for a low noise-generating machine.

10: Salt Water Fuel Cell Car: http://www.greencupboards.com/toys-games/elenco-salt-water-fuel-cell-car.html

Just for fun, the Salt Water Fuel Cell Car is powered by nothing other than saltwater. A great toy for kids learning about alternative energy sources. This car can drive for over 5 hours without needing to refuel.

Christmas tree in Spokane, 1920's

The day after Halloween is always a time of excitement for me.  Although many advertisements have already started, I always think of the night of Halloween as the official beginning of the holiday season.  I was riding my bike to work this morning and I realized leaves, just recently tinted with a crayon box yellow and red hue, are already covering the ground.  The cold crisp wind is here to stay and snow will soon be blanketing our bare sidewalks.   Some friends are making plans to go home for Thanksgiving, and the more eccentric ones are already fretting about Christmas presents.  As fall turns to winter it’s easy to get mucked down in nostalgia for warmer days.

What better way to keep thoughts of warm days at bay than to consider the exciting things this holiday season has in store for us?

In the spirit of the holidays, this morning I spoke with members of the GreenCupboards.com staff and asked them to share what they were most excited for during the holiday season.

1. Friends and Family came in as the most popular answer.  People are excited to go home and spend time with family members during the holiday season.  Some favorite family past times include watching “It’s a Wonderful Life”, caroling, going to new movies, and seeing children open presents.
2. Snow! GreenCupboards.com staff is willing to fight through poor driving (and biking) conditions to get to work if it means they’ll be having a white Christmas!
3. Food was the most popular answer for men in the office.  Thanksgiving dinner, pies and croissants all came up in holiday discussion.   To many people, going home means the comfort of a warm meals and familiar favorite dishes.
4. Winter sports ranked high among both men and women.  The most anticipated sport in the office is skiing and sledding, but many people are looking forward to indoor rock climbing, dancing classes, indoor cycling, and Zumba.  Even more exciting is the upcoming college basketball season (Go Zags!) and Bowl season.
5. Christmas Decorations mean the holidays are approaching in Spokane.  Lights on the Monroe Street Bridge, Christmas trees in the living room, nativity scenes, and Santa Claus’ workshop in the mall are all highly anticipated holiday scenes.  In the spirit of the holidays we’re looking forward to the red, green, and white lights speckling local neighborhoods and Christmas music blasting on the radio.  The lights in the Manito Park Greenhouse have been mentioned as a Spokane must see!
6. The time change is fast approaching.  Sunday, November 6^th at 2 AM we’ll be setting the clocks back an hour.  This means an extra hour of sleep and an annual symbol of the approaching holiday season.
7. With the prospect of upcoming holidays many assured me that New Years Eve would not be forgotten this year.  A final party to celebrate the year that passed and to welcome the year to come, New Year’s Eve is a time to snuggle up with a loved one or enjoy time with friends.
8. Black Friday! Most popular among women in the office, Black Friday  marks the annual last minute shopping spree.  Deals, decorations, warm drinks, and quality time with Mom are just a few of the good things that come with a hectic day of shopping.  According to some, “It means Christmas season is really here”.

Need more reasons to be excited for the next few months to come?  Ask your friends, family, and co-workers which of these holiday events they’re most excited about.  On this 1st of November, GreenCupboards.com says it’s never too early for holiday cheer!

Sources:

http://greencupboards.com/

Images:

http://www.betterbudgeting.com/frugalcrafts/preservingleaves.htm

http://m.spokesman.com/galleries/2010/nov/24/historical-holiday-photos/