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

P is for...

"Pine" comes to mind of course, but I thought that there was something of even more importance than your next Christmas tree. (Imagine that!)

Peace on Earth.

Frankly, I'd settle for peace at home, or even peace in my heart. We can all use a little peace, right? I know we technically haven't gotten even close to the holiday season, but it's never too early to start planning a little peace for yourself. Make a promise now, to take a break here and there. In between the shopping and the party planning and the gift wrapping, take a deep breath. Call a friend and go out for coffee. There's probably a Starbucks in the mall if you don't want to take too much time out.  It all gets too crazy and there is too much to do. It's easy to get stressed and agitated and before you turn green and furry, lashing out at all the little whos around you...find a little "piece" of quiet time.  Read a Christmas story to a child. Call your mom or dad. Spread a little peace instead of spreading more stress around, like fertilizer.
When you are planning all your events and activities, leave a few calender squares empty, but highlight them so you don't fill them with other stuff. These will be your "peace" days.
PLAN ON NOT PLANNING ANYTHING.  Really. Hundreds of years of being an elf means I have experience on this subject. How do you think we all do it year after year?

Start now. Take a deep breath...


Merry Christmas,

Care'n Presents


photo: William Salas

O is for...

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

I apologize for going for the obvious choice this time, but I couldn't resist. The cool thing though, is that when I looked up this song, I found out some really groovy things. This song started out as a German folk song, (OTannenbaum) and originally, it didn't have anything to do with Christmas. Tannenbaum just means "Fir Tree" and the song was about the fact that these trees were evergreen, and symbols of consistency and devotion. Re-written into "modern" lyrics in 1824 by Ernst Anschutz, verses were added which included a Christmas theme. 
This all got me to thinkin' about the idea of an evergreen tree being a symbol of faithfulness...something constant. This makes living Christmas trees make even more sense! The trees are meant to be evergreen, for forever or as long as possible anyway. Cut trees don't get to stay green. They dry out and die, which is why Scotty Claus started this whole Living Christmas Company in the first place. Our trees live on, like true love, or family memories, or that wine stain on your favorite throw rug. (Sorry, it was getting way too serious.) 

So lets all sing to our trees (when we get them) to thank them for being loyal, beautiful and green for another Christmas!

Merry Christmas! 

Care'n Presents




photo and information found:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Tannenbaum

N is for...

Naughty? or Nice?

As far as Scotty Claus is concerned, if you are renting or adopted a Living Christmas Tree, you are on the "Nice" list. Seriously, would a naughty person care about the environment? I think not. This is not to say that if you don't get one, you are on the naughty list or anything, it's more of a gold star, or brownie point kind of thing. We all should do something to make our planet a better place. As long as everyone does what they can, we'll see a better tomorrow. 

I tried to find a Christmas song for N and the only one I found was called "Nuttin' for Christmas" by Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett.

I'm getting nuttin' for Christmas
Mommy and Daddy are mad
I'm getting nuttin' for Christmas
'Cause I ain't been nuttin' but bad.

Clearly, this kid is on the "Naughty" list.  Maybe he should get a Living Christmas tree, haha. Hopefully all of you out there are working on being nice. Christmas seems kind of far away, but I have a feeling it will be here before I know it. Being nice when we're all stressed out around the holidays can be tough, so practice now. We elves try to practice every day.

Merry Christmas!!


Care'n Presents

Photo:  kidzcoolzone.com
http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/c/christmas_songs/nuttin_for_christmas.html

M is for...

♪♫♪♫ "Mamacita, donde esta Santa Claus?" ♪♫♪♫

As I think I have mentioned, my boss, Scotty Claus is multi-lingual, so I couldn't very well get through this Living Christmas alphabet without a little international flair. If you've never heard this Christmas song, check it out on youtube (link below) it's really cute.  

M is also for Monterey Pine, another one of the types of trees you can rent from The Living Christmas Company. I tried to find out some fascinating backround story about these trees, but really the only thing I could find was that they were "first noted" by a guy named Thomas Coulter while he was in, yes, you guessed it! Monterey, California.  The scientific name for this tree is Pinus Radiata, which I think sounds like the name of a Christmas tree angel or something. Doesn't it?  I even looked up Thomas Coulter, and there wasn't a whole lot a fun stuff about him either. He was Irish, which earns points from me. He was known for his work in Mexico, which I suppose ties in the cute little Christmas song I picked out. 

Sometimes you have to be creative. 

Merry Christmas!


Care'n Presents

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3eAaxQVaHE

More information:
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/Volume_1/pinus/radiata.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Coulter