Monday, December 21, 2009

The Green Christmas

Posted by Green Team at 10:58 AM
Every year through the hustle and bustle, some of the true Christmas Spirit is lost. What is Christmas about? Is it about Santa? Is it about Gifts? Christmas Trees and Sleigh Bells, Snow and Reindeer? Wrapping Presents and Drinking Hot Cocoa?

Okay so maybe some of the stuff is SEASONAL, but lets not forget when Christmas began - a tiny baby was born in the town of Bethlehem, his mother Mary and Joseph. And with God the Fathers prompting, they named him Jesus. This little Baby Boy lying in a manger brought the GREATEST gift of all times. One that no one can top, the gift of Eternal Salvation! We no longer had separation from God, we can now have a personal relationship with him. AMAZING!

So the Spirit of Giving continues because of this amazing Gift we have been giving and we give because Christ gave to us! But let us not forget who the very first giver of life was.

On that note, his Gift was also very environmentally friendly - and of course it was because he wants us to protect the Earth he created!

So now, how can WE be more "green" as we share the Christmas cheer of giving? Here is a ROCK'N way to RECYCLE and REUSE:

1. Reuse Boxes - Instead of getting boxes from Kohl's or other stores that offer FREE boxes with gifts you purchase... you could reuse your Cereal Boxes and put items in there! Even Kleenex boxes

2. Open your gifts neatly
- Every year, I save as much of the wrapping paper as I can! Even if there are some rips in the paper, either a bow can be placed over it or you can wrap an item that is smaller and cut off the edges!

3. Collect Tissue Paper - Even when at friends parties, if they are not saving the tissue paper, I ask if I can have it. Why? Because that is a lot of waste that does not need to be wasted!


4. Keep the Bows
- Of course the kids always like placing these on their heads and playing with them - but if they don't stick after they are done playing with them, use tape to sticky them onto another gift!

5. Newspaper - Instead of Tissue paper, reuse newspaper ads - or use a certain section of the paper that you know someone would like to wrap their gift. If you know someone who likes jokes, wrap theirs with the Comics. If you are giving a gift to someone who is looking for a job, use the job listings - if they like talking about money and the economy, wrap their gift with that section! Not only are you being green, but thoughtful too! And it's the gift that keeps on giving!

One other idea would be to have your kids color pictures and wrap gifts with the pictures! Who wouldn't love that?

Now if you made it through this - we'd love for you to share your Green Christmas Tips!
Also when we reach 50 Followers, we are blessed to giveaway a $10 Gift Certificate to RG Natural Babies! IF we reach 50 Followers by December 31 - there will also be a $10 Gift Certificate given away from My Baby Pumpkin! If it is after, then the latter will be saved for another giveaway :) There will be a couple ways to enter and the first way is to become and follower and comment with a green Christmas tip or write that you have used one of these options! So that will give you two entries and look our for more ways soon!

So please, have a Merry Christmas from Go Green Wisconsin! Remember the TRUE reason for the season and remember to think of others and what you can do for them this year! And here is a link if you are unfamiliar with the original Christmas Story!

4 comments:

Jessica on December 21, 2009 at 6:37 PM said...

I always save the boxes that we receive gifts in and have often used brown paper grocery bags as wrapping paper with the kids coloring on them. It gives them a fun project to do and especially the grandparents LOVE the paper :)

ThePrincessMommy on December 21, 2009 at 10:32 PM said...

Do your kids make a LOT of artwork and you just hate throwing some of it away? Save them and use them as framed gifts for family (Grandma & Grandpa love these and there are always frames at the $1 stores!) or wrap gifts with the artwork itself.

This one's more specialized. Knitters often have a HUGE stash of yarn, yarn, yarn. No need to buy a bunch of ribbon. Yarn is a beautiful touch to tie up a package with a pretty bow.

I use brown paper sacks to wrap often. It looks quite nice. And a yarn bow gives it an especially charming touch. :)

Lauren G. on December 22, 2009 at 11:17 PM said...

I always save gift bags! I have TONS from my wedding and baby showers-- PLUS Christmas bags. I also save tissue paper. Never thought about using a brown paper bag like someone above mentioned-- Good idea for when my daughter gets older.

Nikki on December 26, 2009 at 4:52 PM said...

A tip a friend gave me: Buy the reusable bags/sacks (like for groceries) and wrap gifts in those! And then you'd be giving two gifts in ONE! :)

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