I've tried it for a 2 nd time, having a live Christmas tree rather than a cut one, or worse, a plastic tree. The first time I encountered the realization that a live Christmas tree could be purchased, I wasn't thinking about the plastic Christmas trees that many folks seem to find room in their attics to store once the season is over. I was thinking more about how wasteful to cut a tree down, bring it into my home, and then take it back outside to compost. My composting l

Everyone has heard the mantra “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” but did you know there are many additional “R’s” that can be useful before choosing that last resort option to recycle. This is especially true for plastic. Plastic recycling is a myth, so opting for that last resort is basically putting the item in the bin and crossing your fingers that it will be part of the 5% that actually gets recycled and not the other 95% that is landfilled, incinerated or destined for the envir

What is your personal holiday shopping style? Are you a year-round planner who has been leisurely doing your holiday shopping throughout the year so by Thanksgiving Day you have your Christmas and other holiday gifts purchased, wrapped and neatly labeled? OR are you a holiday shopping enthusiast who consider the weeks after Thanksgiving to be the best time for holiday shopping? The weather is chilly, snowflakes may have started to fall, and holiday decorations abound.