Another Christmas come and gone in a whirlwind here at the Mom Goes Green household! I hope your holiday was wonderful and filled with every blessing imaginable! (Now I’m getting back into the groove with post #381 and gearing up for the New Year!)
As always, we had amazing and magical fun! Santa delivered exactly what was requested so the kids are thrilled (and nothing will be sitting, unwanted, under the tree!).
As every box and package was UNpacked, they were broken down and flattened and made their way into the recycling can… even the wrapping paper. The recycling can is FULL… and the garbage can?… hardly a thing added!
Tissue and bows were set aside and have made their way into storage for reuse next year too! All other family gifts were also given in bags recycled from last year so I didn’t need to purchase a single supply! Some family members even gave back the gift bags with a smile and a “Here… for next year!” Ahh, they know me well!
I’m also happy to report that at every gathering, our families used the REAL silverware, plates, bowls, glasses, cups and serveware… not a disposable in sight! Bravo, family… and thank you!
We’ll soon be weeding out old (but usable) clothing, toys, books and other household items to donate to charities that serve the less fortunate. I know we all tend to give before the holidays but 
remember, the need exists 365 days a year so it’s never too late, or too soon! Let the giving continue!
In the coming days I’ll give you more tips and tricks to wrap up the holidays and get you sent off into the New Year…
… But for now, I simply wish to say I hope your Christmas or holiday was as wonderful and magical as ours!
This post proves that it doesn’t take too much effort to keep the holidays green if everyone does their part. Btw another tip is to carefully open your present so you can keep the wrapping paper for later.
.-= Femita´s last blog ..10 Tips For A Greener Home =-.
My grandmother came out of the depression era & taught all of us to save bows, tissue, boxes but she even saved the paper too! I love that you reduced the garbage. Jade and I have even added composting all organic matter, which has reduced our garbage significantly! And yes, the silverware idea is spot-on. We started doing potlucks where we asked people to bring a plate, a cup, and silverware, which they take home with them. It makes the impact of throwing gatherings much lower! Thanks for posting!
.-= Alok Appadurai´s last blog ..Inspiring Women- Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg =-.
Femita – the only things that actually get wrapping paper (and not a reusable gift bag) are the things that come from Santa for our kids… getting a 5- and an 8-year old to neatly unwrap on Christmas morning?… yea, that’s a tough one! 🙂 Otherwise we would be saving that too… but it is always low gloss and non-metallic so into the recycle bin it goes!
Alok – fantastic idea of asking guests to bring their own dinnerware… now it’s no longer a BYOB invitation… it becomes a BYOD (bring your own dinnerware) instead! Love it!
I love that: BYOD!!!! Jade and I are having our next “Monthly Vegetarian Potluck” in late January and BYOD will definitely be in the invitation!!
.-= Alok Appadurai´s last blog ..Inspiring Women- Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg =-.
That sounds wonderful Doreen! I am so happy you and your family had such great family time and that is was so green!!! Yay 🙂 I need to start weeding out the old and donating too – let the organizing begin! XO
.-= smilinggreenmom´s last blog ..Our Christmas ooo’s and aaah’s…and some ooo la la la’s! =-.
Alok – 🙂 Happy to give you a good idea! And Vegetarian Potluck sounds fantastic!
smilinggreenmom – Thank you, my friend! I hope yours was wonderful and magical too! And that organizing thing… sounds great (and we do it!) but it is always proceeded with a sigh! It takes work, but it’s well worth it!
I didn’t have to buy wrapping this year (or last). I restock with what I get each Christmas. 🙂 I’m a big fan of bags because they are easy to save.
.-= Lisa @Retro Housewife Goes Green´s last blog ..Green Holiday Guide- Last Minute Gifts =-.
Lisa – Bravo! I couldn’t agree more! Happy Green New Year!
Hope those who have a live tree contact parks and nature preserves. The tree “as is” makes a habitat when placed near trails. As mulch the tree has natural tendancies to retard plant growth and adds to soil preservation. Tree recycling is offered in my area. See if they have it where you are. We have untill the end of January before the offer goes away.