During the GreenCupboards.com office decorating competition, our team put our heads together to think up new ways to decorate using the guidelines of the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.  Here’s some of fun ways we stayed green.  Feel free to use this as a guide for your own holiday decorating!

Magazine pages and a cereal box transformes!

Magazine flower Wreath: Don’t throw away those old magazines!  Reuse each individual page to make a paper flower (or three)!  These flowers can be attached to a round cardboard back (cut from a cereal box) to create a colorful festive holiday wreath.

t-shirt bows!

T-shirt bows: Want to add a vintage flare to your Christmas gifts this year?  Instead of tossing your stained or worn out t-shirts, use them to make creative bows!  Cut old clothes into strips and make them into bows!  Tie them around packages; attach them to garlands and doors!  These vintage bows are a great personal touch to a gift.

recycled paper makes for fantastic snow flurries!

Paper Snowflakes: Forget the snow machine!  Cut snowflake shapes from used papers and hang them up to make your home a wonderland.

popcorn and cranberry garland

Popcorn and Cranberry Garland: Instead of spending holiday cash on fluffy lavish garlands, create your own.  Sit down with the kids or your loved one and spend the afternoon stringing popcorn and cranberries together.

newspaper for wrapping presents!

Newspaper Gift Wrap: Year after year we spend money on wrapping paper just to throw it away on Christmas morning.  This year, save some time and use your money on something more worthwhile!  Old newspaper serves as the perfect wrapping paper.

newspaper ads for a paper chain!

Paper Chain: In need of a fun holiday craft?  Fold old ads and attach loops to make a long chain to hang over your door frame or mantel.

string tree!

Wall-String-Tree: If a tree is what you’re missing, never fear!  You can create a forest of trees with a few tacks and some string.  Tack a line of string in a tree shape on your wall and decorate it however you like!

Happy Holidays!

Heating out of sight

Bone chilling winter days are on their way!  Although many would recommend putting on that extra sweater, others take the high heat route keeping their homes as warm as a toaster oven.

In the name of conserving energy, I took a look at other winter heating options for the home.  The options of solar water heaters, EPA Certified wood stoves, and small eco-friendly personal heaters are all viable, but I was intrigued by the new advancements with radiant heat.

Radiant floor heating for the home can be done efficiently through electric or hydraulic systems.  These systems work by running electric cables or hot water tubes under the floor.  The heat from the system rises via convection, warming people and objects in the room much like one that would be warmed by the heat of a stove.  Radiant heating systems can also be installed in the ceilings and walls homes.

These systems work without moving air, therefore less heat is lost making them more efficient and sustainable.  Additionally, less chaotic air floor creates a more comfortable environment for people who have allergies.  Built in radiant heat systems boost a home’s market value too.

If you’re looking into home renovation, look into more ways to keep it green!

Sources:
http://www.greenliving9.com/eco-friendly-water-heater.html
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/energy/stories/eco-friendly-heating-the-heat-is-on#comments-64630
http://www.usheatingsystem.com/heated-floors.html
http://www.usheatingsystem.com/radiant-floor-heating.html

Images:

http://dec0r.org/interiors/tag/decorating/

http://www.homecorpservices.com/blog/

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

Halfway to our goal

Winds that swirl through the streets of Spokane have taken on a sudden chill.  The red leaves on the tree outside my window are being swept away, leaving only a few red shivering reminders of the fall transformation.

I’ve been thinking about these cold winds, letting me know that winter is on its way.  Spokane has a number of homeless people, and the GreenCupboards.com office is located within a block of a local shelter.

On November 7^th food began streaming in from GreenCupboards.com team members and we currently have 150 pounds of food collected. We will be ending the collection on November 22^nd and taking the food down the street to our neighboring shelter.

Tis the season to be thankful! Be sure to give locally in order to build community cohesiveness during this national holiday.  Have have some extra time?  Volunteer at your local food shelter!

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/