You can't, you just can't. Nothing works, so just throw it up in a messy bun and look homeless all summer.
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To materialize our impact, Stanford gathered some statistics: If every American family wrapped just 3 presents in re-used materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields. The 2.65 billion Christmas cards sold each year in the U.S. could fill a football field 10 stories high. If we each sent one card less, we'd save 50,000 cubic yards of paper.
So how can you make this an eco-friendly holiday season while still impressing your giftees?
Here are some ideas.
1. Thrifting
Thrift shopping can be the most interesting way to find anything from quirky home decor to high-quality clothing! Many people forget that thrifting is not just limited to clothing, but also jewelry, scarves, photo albums, souvenirs, and even more. (Plus you'll definitely save money).
Heads up: if you go to Rutgers, there will be a pop-up thrift store at the Livingston Student Center from 12 – 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 28th. All proceeds got to Reach A Hand Uganda, a nonprofit organization committed to growing the youth in Uganda, and the extra clothes are donated to Planet Aid. Both great causes, and awesome clothes. For more info, check out this event.
2. Using a reusable tote when you shop
You can probably picture what the trunk of your car would look like after doing some intense gift shopping. Probably something like this.
Instead, with your reusable bags, there's no waste produced. And if you shop like my mom, this is our cart after one trip to Target, Marshall's, etc. Throwing a large tote (or two) into the car will make all the difference (and while you're developing that habit, maybe even take them grocery shopping).
3. Using magazine pages as wrapping paper
Many of us have old magazines lying around, fully read and not of much use anymore. However, we can use their bright colors and prints as a stylish and trendy wrapping paper! Add a bow or ribbon and you easily have an eco-friendly and sleek gift.
4. Buying non-material, handmade, or eco-friendly gifts
Some handmade soaps and candles never hurt.
A lot of us don't need more "stuff" per se, so when thinking of ways not to clutter your giftee's house (and the environment), here are some examples of gifts that someone will love.
Tickets: movies, amusement parks, museums, sports, hikes
Gift certificates: spa, restaurant, bookstore, clothing stores
Handmade gifts: photo albums, basket of baked goods, soaps/perfumes, candles (here's a local seller to get started)
Sustainable gifts: reusable water bottles (like Swell), tote bags, metal straws, bamboo utensils, clothes made from recycled materials (it's pretty cool, turning water bottles into cotton-like t-shirts)
Share this with people who are looking to go green this gifting season, because our actions have an impact, and to show others that being eco-friendly isn't as hard as it seems.
https://unsplash.com/photos/d-SeLxF_QF0
Angry Elf Cocktail
The "Angry Elf Cocktail" is the perfect addition
The Grinch Hopper
"He's a mean one, Mr. Grinch" is definitely referring to this vibrant green
Jack Frost Cocktail
Rudolph Hot Toddy
Peppermint Patty Christmas Cocktail
White Christmas Margaritas
Red Ryder Cocktail
Eddie's Eggnog
Melting Snowman Cocktail
Santa Clause-mopolitan
Getty Famous
The Theme:
Technically Christmas is a theme itself but you can make it more exciting and create a theme that goes alone with the holiday. Base the party after a movie like “Elf” or “The Grinch” and have the décor represent those movies. If you want to go old school do an Ugly Sweater party and you can have a competition and the ugliest sweater winner gets to wear a sash around all night.
Food and Drinks:
Have the best of the best out for everyone to enjoy, food really is always the best part of most things in life. Create exciting deserts like cake pops, chocolate dipped fruit and have everyone chip in for making main dishes. There are so many fun flavors that we only see in the winter like peppermint mocha. You can have a hot cocoa bar and coffee bar to keep the energy going.
Entertainment:
Create a really upbeat and festive playlist for your party. Put on classics on there but also some songs that everyone can dance to. Also, have some type of activity that everyone can be a part of like cookie decorating or ornament making. If you are planning on a low key night Christmas movies are always a great options.
Games:
Again there are so many awesome classic games that you can play with your friends. One new game that I want to encourage everyone to play this year and the next year is the “Seran Wrap Ball Game”. This game is so much and interesting, all you need is a bunch of random items like candy, pens, CDs, socks and anything you can think of. You wrap all the items into one huge ball made out of seran wrap and have your friends sit in a circle. Then, give the ball to one person and have the person next to them roll some dices until they get to the number 7. While one person is trying to get the lucky number the other person with the ball is unwrapping it individually and winning prizes as they fall out. This is just so much fun because everyone wins for the most part and its not that pricy.
These are just some easy creative ideas that can make your next Christmas party really fun and get everyone excited for next years.
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