chris

Why you should host a Christmas cookie exchange

It's the fastest (and most fun) way to fill your house with a variety of delicious baked goods.




chris

Stewardship Over Creation: Christianity & The Environment

Saint Francis of Assisi statue, photo: David Morris/Creative Commons. The following post is part of an ongoing series of posts outlining how the world's major religions have traditionally viewed the environment and are putting those beliefs into




chris

Evangelical Christians call on Obama to protect public lands from oil and gas leasing

Rev. Richard Cizik and the nonprofit New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good have released a video message to President Obama calling on him to do more to protect public lands from destruction by private industry.




chris

Is this the beginning of the end for traditional Christmas shopping?

British retailers brace for "unbelievably bad" profits this year. Can climate change be blamed?




chris

"Save Fish, Eat Chips" and More Quirky Christmas Gift Ideas from DesignMarketo (Photos)

Great gift ideas from DesignMarketo, a platform diffusing up-and-coming designers’ small and limited productions. Our favourite: "Save Fish, Eat Chips" t-shirts!




chris

Join the Christmas Climate Strike

"Give the future, not presents."




chris

This Christmas, we should take a lesson from the Germans

Stand around a fire and sip mulled wine. Skip the last-minute shopping. Give time, not stuff.




chris

Zero Energy Christmas Decoration Lights Up Under Existing Streetlamps

How about using the light from already existing street lamps to spark off the festive season? Here are some off-the-grid parasite lamps so to speak, that look good by day!




chris

World's first “Brussels Sprout Battery” lights up a Christmas tree

In an effort to improve kids' opinions about Brussels sprouts, a team of engineers and scientists decided to give them a cooler edge by making them power up the lights on a Christmas tree.




chris

Angels, Reindeers, Pigs and Christmas Trees; sustainable wood decoration by Lovi

more images below Matteria, good design+smart materials online store, suggest a spicy Christmas this year, without forgetting the environment. Apart from the gorgeous cork advent candle holder, the cosy Finnish red felt slippers, and giftbags to spoil




chris

'Book' Christmas tree is easy, eco-friendly, and free

If you are tired ot dragging home a live tree and having it shed its pine needles through your home as it dies, look no further. All this tree takes is your love, and the books from your bookshelf.




chris

Woman has used the same Christmas tree every year since 1928

In this age of consumerism, particularly around the holiday season, sometimes its easy to forget that the things we've used the longest often have the most value to us -- but the virtues of reuse just seem come naturally to some




chris

Xmas Stress? Get A Christmas Tree Delivered By Bike

Real Christmas trees - the ones you go out and cut down yourself, are a growth industry, says SF Gate. That's because young adults are flocking to u-cut tree lots, out for the experience and the family time that Christmas-tree




chris

Cute, Low Impact Wool Felt Christmas Tree Ornaments by Planar

I have to admit I'm a bit the green grinch of the family: I really can't stand all the mindless consumption over the holidays, and I'm always pushing the buy nothing concept. I don't even have a Christmas tree.




chris

Israeli Artist Makes Christmas Tree From 5,480 Recycled Plastic Bottles

Devastating forest fires in the area haven't kept Haifa, Israel, from being able to put up a massive Christmas tree in the center of town. It helps, of course, that the tree is made entirely of recycled plastic bottles -- 5,480 of them.




chris

Old Christmas Trees Help Other Trees Grow Year-Round in Paris' Neighborhood Parks

Once all the gifts have been opened, all the feasting done, all the toasts made, the time will soon come to figure out what the heck to do with the Christmas tree around which so




chris

First People Powered Christmas Tree in UK

Trivia challenge: how many years can you run London with the power used on Christmas lights?




chris

The Week in Pictures: Parisian Industrial Island to Become Green Cultural Hub, Elf-Powered Christmas Tree, and More

An island once home to a Renault car factory will be sustainably transformed. We also have a Christmas tree powered by jumping elves, a hydrogen-powered tractor, and more.




chris

Flat-Pack Christmas Tree Made of Corrugated Cardboard is a Keeper

This Christmas tree by Giles Miller will keep on going, year after year.




chris

Christmas Trees Recycled Into Fish Habitats Across the Country

Around the country, Christmas trees are recycled for an unlikely purpose: they make for good fish habitat.




chris

Multi Purpose, Flat Pack Aluminium Christmas Tree for the Ultimate Minimalist

Created by Argentine designer José Manuel Rebert Alarcon, the sleek alternative to a dead tree allows other uses during the year.




chris

Let's Have A Real War On Christmas Excess And Revive SPUG, the Society for the Prevention of Useless Gifts

Why should Fox News have all the fun?




chris

Natural Trees Come With Christmas Critters

A new twist in the ongoing debate over the best Christmas tree: live, natural, artificial, or other?




chris

Green the holidays. Eat your Christmas tree.

Live Christmas trees are a great way to keep the holiday spirit alive into the New Year. But what if you could eat them too?




chris

It's a floating Christmas tree

An old boat and nets are recycled into a lovely surprise.




chris

Awesome Christmas tree from an old ladder

We've done them all - the organic Xmas tree, the re-plant live Xmas tree, the bike-delivered Xmas tree. This one feels the greenest of them all.




chris

When it comes to Montreal's "ugly" Christmas tree, we're TreeHuggers.

Because it is really a Solstice Tree, and it is all about life in a harsh climate.




chris

How to care for a living Christmas tree

Instead of buying a cut tree that gets used once, choosing a potted or burlap-bagged living Christmas tree can yield years of enjoyment.




chris

How to have the greenest Christmas tree ever

These eco-friendly decorating tips will make your tree greener than the color of its pine needles.




chris

Christmas tree shortage will be felt for a long time

When it comes to live Christmas trees, we're still feeling the effects of the Great Recession ten years ago.




chris

Beautiful South African Christmas tree is made of recycled materials

Every year, the town of Barrydale makes a magnificent tree using upcycled plastic, ribbons, and interactive lighting.




chris

What's wrong with Amazon selling fresh Christmas trees?

The e-behemoth has just announced (IN SEPTEMBER) that it will be selling and shipping 7-foot trees this year. Here are the problems with that plan.




chris

Living Christmas tree rental takes off in England, too

Pot-grown trees are a nice idea. Especially if someone else looks after them.




chris

Why I always choose a real Christmas tree

It comes down to the plastic. I want as little of it in my life as possible.




chris

A Canadian forester argues in favor of real Christmas trees

From supporting local farmers to boosting happiness, there are many reasons to use a real conifer in your house.




chris

Look out for wild animals in your Christmas tree!

A few households have had surprising visitors.




chris

German President gets coal for Christmas as last black coal mine closes

Coal for Christmas, but not for being naughty. Germany commemorates the end of an era as the last black coal mine closes.




chris

7 ways to dispose of an old Christmas tree

There are lots of ways to put a tree to good use.




chris

PNC Christmas Price Index Up A Tame One Percent In 2014; Is This The Year True Loves Make The Splurge? - Presenting The Great Carol Comeback.

Presenting The Great Carol Comeback.






chris

Volvo Lets You Have Your Christmas Shopping Delivered Directly to Your Car - Volvo Lets You Have Your Christmas Shopping Delivered Directly To Your Car

Volvo Lets You Have Your Christmas Shopping Delivered Directly To Your Car





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Coppertone® Teams Up With Soccer Stars Christen Press, Kelley O'Hara, Graham Zusi And Matt Besler To Inspire Daily Sun Protection - Christen Hydrate TV Spot Use and reapply as directed.

When Christen Press puts her game face on, she makes sure she helps protect it with Coppertone® Sport. Use and reapply as directed.




chris

PeriCoach®, New FDA-Approved Pelvic Floor Training System For Women, Now Available - Christine Lewicky-Gaupp, MD

Dr. Lewicky-Gaupp knows what a significant problem UI can be for millions of women – many of whom suffer in silence. Here she explains why the PeriCoach System is an important new treatment option.




chris

Proof Of Impact: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Is Making Progress Toward A World Without Blood Cancers - Christine Attia, supporter.

Christine Attia lost her fiancé just two years ago after he lost a courageous six-month battle with acute myeloid leukemia. She reminds everyone, while breakthrough therapies are saving lives, work still needs to be done to find cures.




chris

Supreme Court reverses fraud convictions of Christie aides in NJ 'Bridgegate' scandal

The Supreme Court reversed the fraud convictions of two aides to former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie involved in the "Bridgegate" scandal.




chris

1-on-One: Stacey & Chris

Stacey in Kansas City, Missouri, is overwhelmed by her fiance Chris's student loan debt and wonders if they should postpone their wedding. They've both come to Suze for advice




chris

I’m home for Christmas – but hardship has sucked the spirit out of Zimbabwe

After years in exile, my hopes for a joyous family reunion were dashed by the country’s miserable economic situation

My brothers and I leapt out of bed at the first glimmer of dawn on Christmas morning – and there they were. Every Christmas of my childhood that I can remember, the shiny black school shoes were neatly lined up by the door. A new pair for all of us. Then came the new clothes proudly presented by my parents – the fruit of long hours of labour. And then, in our new finery, off we went to church. The long sunny hours of Christmas Day, usually with a brief but refreshing afternoon thunderstorm, were spent at huge family gatherings, feasting on chicken and rice, washed down with an array of brightly-coloured soft drinks – cherry plum, cream soda and Fanta orange.

As the years went by and independence came to Zimbabwe, many things changed. But Christmas traditions remained much the same, with big gatherings to which people travelled many miles, new clothes, lots to eat and drink.

When I arrived in mid-December, the tales of hardship were heart-breaking. There’d be no gifts for children this year.

Continue reading...




chris

Teeny Books for Christmas

This December, I discovered the Etsy shop Ever After Miniatures, which offers DIY printable miniature books. You buy the templates, print them out, then cut, fold, and paste the sweetest little openable books, which have readable pages inside.


This sort of project is made for me.


Most evenings, I would work on a few. I made them as gifts, mostly.


We have a small secret drawer at the end of our dining room table. I kept my project in there when I wasn't working on it.


At a certain point, Kevin pointed out that they would make good tree ornaments. So I started adding strings and ribbons to a few of the covers. :o)


I got a little obsessed with this idea.




Here's one of my favorite pages of Pride and Prejudice.


After they were dry, up they went!


Lovely.

I have loads more Arctic pictures to share, and will do so as time permits. Hope you're all having a nice January! As I type this, it's sleeting in the Boston area, and our temperatures are expected to be close to 0°F tonight, which is about -17°C. Svalbard-worthy temperatures!

More pictures soon, when book-writing permits.