V is for...

Sometimes I wonder if the alphabet was put into the order it is, because of the average usage of each letter. I mean, did someone decide that the letter A is used the most so it should be first?  These are the things that fill an elf's mind...along with the song "You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I'm telling you why..."

So here we are at "V".


Since I had a rather serious/scientific-y post the last time, I thought, I need to get one that's a little more uupbeat. So my V word is:

VERY

As in, a VERY Merry Christmas!                          
A VERY beautiful Christmas tree!
A VERY lovely time will be had by all. 

I wish you many VERY wonderful things this season.


Merry Christmas
(a Very Merry Christmas that is.)


Care'n Presents


photo: missionviejolife.org

U is for...

♪♫ Up on the housetop reindeer pause,
out jumps good ol'  Scotty Claus! ♫♪

When I was growing up, we never had a fireplace. Of course I still expected to hear Santa's reindeer on the roof even though we didn't have a fireplace for him to come in. So how did he bring all those gifts to my elfling siblings and me? Obviously he came in through the mail slot in the front door, duh. 
Christmas is all about believing. Sometimes it's not easy to believe in things that other people look on as a "dream".  Scotty Claus wanted to make Christmas more Earth friendly, more tree friendly, and more environmentally friendly. Let's face it, he's a friendly guy. One of the things he does is to replant the trees once they've become too big or just not suitable to be Christmas trees. He lets them "retire" and at the same time, adds some greenery in places that need it.

Urban Infill and Urban Forestry  (our official U words for today)

In the off seasons our trees live in their cozy little pots on brownfields (unused industrial lands) where they suck up carbon and produce lots of oxygen. This improves air quality and combats global warming (how cool is that?).  Our retired trees also help with storm water run-off, and of course add beauty to well, wherever they are planted. Some things are just nicer to look at than others, don't you think?


Merry Christmas!!

Care'n Presents

Imagine 1000 Living Christmas trees instead of just brown.

photo: njtpa.org

T is for...

Wow, it's been awhile since my last post I think. We've been getting busy at the workshop! Orders are beginning to come in. Yes I know it's only October, but our trees are special. Once you go Living Christmas, there is just no substitute! I know you may be thinking:  T is for TREES, but when have you known me to go for the obvious? Well, okay besides that time, and the time before and...you're missing the point!

So what pray tell, am I offering you as my T word? Easy. TIME.
There are things so much more important about Christmas that you won't see just anywhere. Forget about what to buy your Aunt Bessie or your second-cousin Joe. Yes, we all know people who need things: a young couple with a baby could use baby clothes or maybe a friend lost their job and could use a dress shirt for interviews. For the most part though, there are a lot of people out there that have more than enough. What they don't have is time. Unfortunately this is not something you can buy. I'll tell you a secret though...are you listening very carefully? (or reading, that would be more accurate.) You can make time. It's not always easy, but it is possible. The funny thing is that when you make time, other people seem to be able to make time too. I suppose it's contagious in a way. Okay, for those of you who think that yes, Care'n has gone off the deep end, I'll explain.
Have you ever noticed that when someone you care about bumps into you at the store or some place random, when you leave you say something like "Hey, we need to get together!" This hardly ever happens. On the other hand, if you call someone out of the blue and say "Hey, what are you doing right now? Let's do coffee!!" They might hesitate, and start to say, "Gosh I'm really busy." After a moment thought it's likely they will say "You know, I think I can squeeze some time away!" You made the time, and they found the time they thought wasn't there.
So take some time, make some time, and definitely give some time. It all goes by way too fast, and those people you want to get together with, may some day not be there, and then there is no time at all.
Today, I'm giving you a mission: call someone and don't say "Let's get together sometime," but instead say "Let's get together now. Right now."


Merry Christmas!!


Care'n Presents



photo:  artdoms.com

S is for...

Seriously?

What starts with an S, ends in an S and is filled with jolly Christmas cheer?

Why, Scotty Claus of course! He's the founder and Jolly Ol' Soul of The Living Christmas Company. He's dedicated to changing the way people view Christmas and dreams of a greener Christmas for all. Granted, he occasionally shoots his elves with a nerf gun at random moments during the off season, but hey, he's just trying to keep us on our toes. He plays Christmas music all year round (mostly in his head I think, but in the workshop too). If he could give the whole planet earth a great big hug, Scotty Claus would definitely do it. Since he can't, he focuses on who and what he can hug...his elves, family, friends...and well, a whole lot of Christmas trees. As we get closer to Christmas, I would almost swear he has begun to jingle when he walks.  He's busy making improvements for the company and getting everything ready so this can be the best Christmas Season ever.

Ho Ho Ho!! Meeeeeeeeerrrrrry Christmas!! (I think I hear him now!)

Merry Merry,

Care'n Presents


for more about Scotty Claus' mission...
http://livingchristmas.com/info/about.php

R is for...

I always feel a little bad when I go for the obvious choice, but what kind of Living Christmas elf would I be if I didn't say that R is for...

Recycling!!

I know some of you might be thinking that recycling is a pain, but depending on where you live, it can be very easy. In our area, we have a special bin that we put all of our cardboard, glass, plastic etc. in an it gets picked up on trash day. Easy, right? But what if you don't have that option? A lot of grocery stores have recycling collections in the parking lot, and you can get money for your recycled items there. Even if you don't have pick up, you don't feel like taking your cans to the store parking lot, or even sorting the stuff in the  first place, there are still things you can do! 
"Reuse-Reduce-Recycle". (All R words too!) Use something more than once. Use that plastic grocery bag as a waste can liner instead of going out and buying a roll of liners. Use the container your sandwich meat came in to put leftovers in.  There are lots of ways to keep our planet green, that aren't really too hard. (Need I mention renting a living Christmas tree instead of a cut tree? Nah, I didn't think so...)

To see how we are keeping green check out:
http://livingchristmas.com/

For more information on recycling:
http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/rrr/recycle.htm

photo: openairbigbear.com


Merry Christmas!
Merry Merry!

Care'n Presents

Q is for...

Okay, I know it's been awhile, but c'mon, Q? Not the easiest letter to do...but actually I did think of something:

Quiet.

When I was just a wee elfling, my mother used to tell me on Christmas Eve, that if I was very still and very quiet, I might be able to hear Santa's sleigh bells. So I would lie there in my bed, not moving a muscle, and as quiet as a mouse, listening. After what seemed like hours, I would think, did I just hear something? I was certain I heard the feint tinkling of bells. I'm not sure if I was actually slipping into dream-land by then, but before I knew it I was fast asleep. When I got older, my suspicion was, that it was all a trick my parents played to get me to go to sleep. Did I hear the bells? Still not sure, but it was fun trying.

Not to sound like a broken record, but I just wanted to say again, that it the midst of the craziness of the Christmas season, a little quiet time might be nice.  Stick a peppermint stick into your cafe mocha, open up a  book and relax for a while. Inhale the scent of your Living Christmas tree. I like to look at those magazines with pictures of beautiful holiday place settings, that I know I could probably never pull off, and dream of some elegant cocktail party I'll have some day.  Whatever floats your boat. Quiet is a good thing...well except when you have kids and it gets "too quiet", in which case it could be dangerous, hehe.
Enjoy the quiet of the season when you can.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Merry,
Care'n Presents


photo: amazon.com