Search Results for: real christmas trees or plastic christmas trees

How to Recycle After Christmas is Over

Many families enjoy decorating for Christmas. This includes both indoor and outdoor decorations. After Christmas, families begin storing their Christmas decorations. What can you do with items that cannot be re-used? It might be possible to recycle them! Real Christmas trees can be recycled. The first thing to do is call your local recycling center, or your local waste management authority. Ask if they will recycle Christmas trees before bringing your tree to the facility. Your local zoo may be collecting recycled Christmas trees to be used as treats for their animals. Before you go – be sure to remove … Continue reading →

Reasons to Take Good Care of Your Christmas Tree

When does your family put up the Christmas tree? Some families decorate the tree before Thanksgiving, and others wait until a few days before Christmas to do it. The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety wants to remind you to take good care of your Christmas tree. There is the potential that a Christmas tree could catch fire. Many families have made a tradition of picking out a Christmas tree, and decorating it together. The tree is a big part of the season. What else would you put all those presents under? People have a tendency to think of … Continue reading →

Putting Christmas Away

Am I the only one who loves to see Christmas come but really love to see it go? I woke up yesterday and just wanted my house back. Everything is out of place and I want it to be normal again. I feel like such a Scrooge but I want the tree down, the nutcrackers put away and the lights off the house. Until next November, then I’ll be happy to see it all again. Usually I wait until New Years Day and take everything down in one fell swoop. This was pretty much organized chaos. Next Christmas would roll … Continue reading →

Amica Insurance Has Advice About Christmas Trees

Will your family be celebrating Christmas with a real tree this year? Amica Insurance has some excellent advice for finding, and caring for, your Christmas tree. Following this advice is a good way to make your celebration safer, and more pleasant. A beautifully decorated Christmas tree is the centerpiece of the season. You will see them in stores, churches, and in people’s homes at this time of year. Most retail stores will select an easy to care for plastic Christmas tree to put up. Many families, however, have traditions that include selecting a real Christmas tree. Real Christmas trees require … 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 →

Marriage Christmas Traditions

Mick had his turn of looking after me, now it’s my turn to look after him. On Sunday night we went to carols at the beach. Despite the heat of the day and the fact it’s summer here in Australia, that evening turned quite cold and windy. Next thing, Mick’s come down with all the snuffles, aches and pains of flu symptoms. He’s an easy patient to look after though. He’s spent the last few days on medicine and sleeping, sleeping, sleeping. I wish I could sleep like that when I’m sick, but I never can. Thankfully I’m now armed … Continue reading →

The Perfect Christmas Tree

This year, I am seriously thinking of having a perfect “theme” tree. Usually, we have our traditional tree that is an eclectic mix of paper ornaments, glass balls, tiny plastic reindeer and anything that might have caught the eye of a child anytime in the last 40 years. But I also dream of another tree, one whose branches yield a more cohesive style, where the ornaments all match and everything is planned out. I have been pouring through home magazines and catalogues dreaming of the perfect decorated Christmas tree. There is the rustic cabin in the woods kind of tree, … Continue reading →

Real Storage Solutions Using Egg Cartons

Unless your are a homesteader, you probably have an almost endless supply of egg cartons. Why not put them to good use instead of throwing them away? Egg cartons can be used for all sorts of storage solutions. My favorite use for egg cartons has got to be to store small breakable objects. The little cavities where the eggs normally go are perfect to nest things such as Christmas ornaments, delicate jewelry, etc. In the case of jewelry, especially, an easy tip is to grab a shoe-box and insert the bottom of the egg carton into the shoe-box. You can … Continue reading →

Is Your Yard Ready for Christmas?

Wow! Have you seen all the great outdoor decorations available for Christmas? I like the lighted giant snow globes with faux snow flying around. They are adorable. I also like the inflatable outdoor Christmas decorations such as giant snowmen and Santa figures. The best part is many of them cost less than most people might imagine. There are all kinds of displays to choose from, such as fiber optic reindeer and angels and Christmas trees. My favorite is the fiber optic Nativity Scene. The soft glow of fiber optic lighting looks beautiful against the night sky. There are other figures … Continue reading →

More Ways to Spice Up Seasonal Pet Shots

Okay, I’ve never actually seen a real hamster dressed up in a Santa’s hat for a Christmas card shoot, but that’s what Photoshop is for, right? Clearly, some pets are easier to deck out for a holiday photo shoot than others, but that shouldn’t stop you from adding your Fur Baby to a festive scene. Even if Fido doesn’t want to keep the reindeer antlers on his head, you can make him look merry by placing him in front of a seasonal background. Christmas trees and fireplaces are ideal backdrops for Christmas photos. Another option is to take Fluffy outside … Continue reading →