Wow! Now that we're in October, it really seems like Christmas is around the corner. Okay, maybe not for all of you, but for us here at The Workshop, we have to be ready a few weeks before with our Living Christmas tree deliveries! Our elves and reindeer have to organize the trees and the orders so everyone gets the right tree! It's a lot of work! Scotty Claus maps out the routes so that the drivers are being as efficient as possible, and we're leaving as small a "footprint" as we can. I try and stay out of the way by hanging out at the Farmer's Markets where I get to meet lots of people, smile all day, take even more orders, and give Scotty, the other elves, and the reindeer still more work to do. It's a really good thing we love our work, or I would not be a very popular elf. ;)
So where were we? Oh yes...
Day 80 - Breathe. I know we all do that every day, but sometimes you have to think about taking a deep breath. Breathe in. Breathe out. Relax. Seriously. That guy who just cut you off on the freeway is not worth any extra stress. Breathe in. Breathe out. Have a nice day, Buddy. Hopefully you won't hurt yourself or anyone else while you weave in and out of traffic. Personally, I'd really like to be alive when I get home.
Day 79 - Go to livingchristmas.com and decide which type of tree you'd like. We have a few different kinds and they are not the same old varieties you'll find at the lots. We have pictures you can look at and find the right one for you and/or your family.
Day 78 - Face the week with a smile! I know Mondays can be a drag for some people, but if we all made an effort to smile at one person it might just make them smile and it could cause an avalanche of smiles! Who knows?
All right. So breathe, pick out a tree and smile! It's gonna' be a great week!!
Merry Merry!
Care'n Presents
Monday, October 7, 2013
Friday, October 4, 2013
Busy, Busy, Busy
I can't help it! I'm a busy little elf. What can I say? Today, however I am caught up.
Day 89 - Enjoy something green. Maybe for you it's Kermit the Frog. For me, it's a Christmas tree. Since there aren't a whole lot of Christmas trees around yet, I'll settle for any tree. Step away from your computer and go outside. Appreciate whatever nature you can find. Breathe it in.
Day 88 - Look in your closet for red and green items. I don't know about you, but being an elf, I can't very well wait until December to find something festive to wear. Granted, being an elf, most of my clothes are red and green, and some even have jingly things on them, but still, I need to make sure they are in good shape and ready to wear this season!
Day 87 - Give someone a hug. Did I say that one already? Well, you can never give out too many hugs, right?
Day 86 - Check out our Christmas ornaments on livingchristmas.com. We have some really beautiful recycled ones, and lots of Fair Trade ornaments from exotic places like Peru and Tibet.
Day 85 - While you are there, check and see what kind of tree you'd like this year, unless of course you have adopted one from last year. If you don't see your adopted tree, don't worry, and elves are working hard to get everything organized. We recently moved all our trees from one lot to another one AND The Workshop has moved too. What a year, huh?
Day 84 - Call a friend. Ask them out for a cup of coffee, or a soda, or lunch. We all say: "We have to get together!" The problem is, then we get busy with, well, life, and these things tend to be a low priority. Push it to the top. Having friends takes time, but it's well worth it.
Day 83 - Clean the house. I mean really clean. As we get closer and closer to the holidays, things get busy. wouldn't it be nice to have a fresh start on it all? Think of it as Spring Cleaning...in the Fall. :)
Day 82 - Rub your pointy ears. Wait, you don't have pointy ears? Oh, that's right. I'm just so used to most of the people I know having them...well, rub your roundy ears then. Why? I don't know. I heard that it's lucky, or something. Can't hurt.
Day 81 - TODAY! Wow, I'm caught up (for the moment). Today I want to make up my holiday calendar. We all know that things get a little crazy during the holidays. We all schedule way too many things and get way too stressed out about everything. So I make a calendar. If there's too much, I try and figure out if I can let something go. If there's nothing I really can let go, I make sure to schedule in some restful moments in between. Going shopping all day? Decide to stop at some point for a little "me" time. Cleaning the house? Put some fun music on and dance while you work.
Well, there you go. Wow. tomorrow it will only be 80 days until Christmas!! Part of me can't wait, the other part wants to make every moment last. This can be a great time of year. Don't let it get so busy, that it's no fun any more. Be a kid, or better yet...an elf.
Merry Merry!
Care'n Presents
Day 89 - Enjoy something green. Maybe for you it's Kermit the Frog. For me, it's a Christmas tree. Since there aren't a whole lot of Christmas trees around yet, I'll settle for any tree. Step away from your computer and go outside. Appreciate whatever nature you can find. Breathe it in.
Day 88 - Look in your closet for red and green items. I don't know about you, but being an elf, I can't very well wait until December to find something festive to wear. Granted, being an elf, most of my clothes are red and green, and some even have jingly things on them, but still, I need to make sure they are in good shape and ready to wear this season!
Day 87 - Give someone a hug. Did I say that one already? Well, you can never give out too many hugs, right?
Day 86 - Check out our Christmas ornaments on livingchristmas.com. We have some really beautiful recycled ones, and lots of Fair Trade ornaments from exotic places like Peru and Tibet.
Day 85 - While you are there, check and see what kind of tree you'd like this year, unless of course you have adopted one from last year. If you don't see your adopted tree, don't worry, and elves are working hard to get everything organized. We recently moved all our trees from one lot to another one AND The Workshop has moved too. What a year, huh?
Day 84 - Call a friend. Ask them out for a cup of coffee, or a soda, or lunch. We all say: "We have to get together!" The problem is, then we get busy with, well, life, and these things tend to be a low priority. Push it to the top. Having friends takes time, but it's well worth it.
Day 83 - Clean the house. I mean really clean. As we get closer and closer to the holidays, things get busy. wouldn't it be nice to have a fresh start on it all? Think of it as Spring Cleaning...in the Fall. :)
Day 82 - Rub your pointy ears. Wait, you don't have pointy ears? Oh, that's right. I'm just so used to most of the people I know having them...well, rub your roundy ears then. Why? I don't know. I heard that it's lucky, or something. Can't hurt.
Day 81 - TODAY! Wow, I'm caught up (for the moment). Today I want to make up my holiday calendar. We all know that things get a little crazy during the holidays. We all schedule way too many things and get way too stressed out about everything. So I make a calendar. If there's too much, I try and figure out if I can let something go. If there's nothing I really can let go, I make sure to schedule in some restful moments in between. Going shopping all day? Decide to stop at some point for a little "me" time. Cleaning the house? Put some fun music on and dance while you work.
Well, there you go. Wow. tomorrow it will only be 80 days until Christmas!! Part of me can't wait, the other part wants to make every moment last. This can be a great time of year. Don't let it get so busy, that it's no fun any more. Be a kid, or better yet...an elf.
Merry Merry!
Care'n Presents
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Oops!
Day 94 - Stores, believe it or not, are already putting out Christmas decorations. One of my favorite things to do at Christmas is to go window shopping! I love to look at all the decorations and ornaments and lights! It puts me in the mood. I don't have to buy anything,I just enjoy the view. Considering most people won't be putting up their own lights for another month and a half, this works for the time being.
Day 93 - Practice a little stress relief: Go to the "99 cent store" and get a coloring book and crayons. Then color away! It's the cheapest therapy you will ever experience, and there are no bad side affects!
Day 92 - Sing a song to yourself! It doesn't have to be a Christmas song (although, those are the best kind!) As Buddy the Elf would say: "The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear." Even if you don't sing loud, it can still make you feel good.
Day 91 - Find some old Christmas cards and find ways to recycle them: you can make new cards with them, picture frames, coasters, decorations, or gift tags for your Christmas presents!
Day 90 - Do something nice for a stranger. Open the door, help them pick up something they dropped, or just smile at them. Sometimes a smile from a stranger is just the thing that will lift someone's spirits.
The rest, with any luck, I will type up after my work is done, tomorrow. I will be moving some ornaments and gift wrap and other fun stuff to The Workshop so they will be ready whenever someone orders them. AND...in case you are wondering you can order really super cool stuff from our website:
livingchristmas.com
Meanwhile...
Merry Merry!
Care'n Presents
Saturday, September 21, 2013
A Little Catching Up to Do
Okay, so I'm already behind in my 100 days of things to do before Christmas. It isn't that I haven't thought about it, but it's been a busy week!! On Thursday, Lauren Peace (my fellow elf) and I participated in an event at the Oprah Winfrey Network. How cool is that? Seriously! Earlier in the week I was trying to get ready, making sure we had all of our Christmassy stuff ready to bring with us. This is one of my typical elf duties here at the Workshop. I get stuff together, I go, I smile and I talk about The Living Christmas Company, AND, I get to meet lots of fun and interesting people in the process. I love being an elf. But back to the list....
Day 99 - Give someone you love a BIG hug!! (easy, right?)
Day 98 - Decide what kind of cookies to make this year. I know, not everyone makes cookies, but if you do, this is important right? Usually I make Gingerbread Trees, but I was considering Short-bread pinwheels this year, what do you think? Maybe I should stick to Trees, considering all....
Day 97 - Check out the eco-friendly wrapping paper at livingchristmas.com. We have some really groovy styles and patterns! It's never too early to think about gift giving. Think about it! On the off chance that you actually do get your shopping done early (if you are like me every year you promise yourself that you will...) you'll want to wrap those fabulous gifts!!
Day 96 - Meet someone new!! I can say I actually did that when I went to the OWN event! I met LOTS of really nice, wonderful people!
Day 95 - Think of some random person that you haven't talked to for a really long time and send them a message, or call them, or write them a letter or e-mail just to say that you are thinking of them. This is something I try to do...at least once a week. It can make someone's day. Believe me, it's always worth it. A few minutes can mean so much.
Now I'm caught up. I'll try and be better, but you know what they say...an elf's work is never done. Actually...I'm okay with that.
Merry Merry!
Care'n Presents
Sunday, September 15, 2013
The Christmas List
Hello Everyone! I know it's been a really long time since I last posted, but it's been busy at the North Pole and I have only recently been able to transfer down here to Southern California so I can help out Scotty Claus. It took a little while to get adjusted too. One minute I'm freezing my little pointy ears off in the Arctic, the next minute I'm here and it's 90 degrees! Truth be told, I like it here better.
Time sure flies doesn't it? There are only 100 more days until Christmas! So much to do! I need a list: a Christmas List. I know you've heard of a "Bucket List"...things you want to do before you, well... kick the bucket. A Christmas List is much more cheerful! It's all the things you'd like to do before Christmas. (I know, not rocket science, but give me a little credit, I am an elf.) So I've decided that for the next one hundred days, I will list one item on my Christmas List each day. I'm not saying I'm going to do EVERYTHING, but I'm going to try. They won't be in any kind of order, just as I think of them.
So here I go...
Day 100 (I will descend): Make a Christmas List - oh wait, I already said that. Okay, I have a good idea! Order a Christmas tree from The Living Christmas Company!!
You could do that too! Just go to:
http://livingchristmas.com/
and click on "Rent a Tree".
Each tree comes with a free hug! Okay, maybe not in person, but we will send virtual hugs to everyone who rents from us!! :)
Merry Merry
Care'n Presents
Time sure flies doesn't it? There are only 100 more days until Christmas! So much to do! I need a list: a Christmas List. I know you've heard of a "Bucket List"...things you want to do before you, well... kick the bucket. A Christmas List is much more cheerful! It's all the things you'd like to do before Christmas. (I know, not rocket science, but give me a little credit, I am an elf.) So I've decided that for the next one hundred days, I will list one item on my Christmas List each day. I'm not saying I'm going to do EVERYTHING, but I'm going to try. They won't be in any kind of order, just as I think of them.
So here I go...
Day 100 (I will descend): Make a Christmas List - oh wait, I already said that. Okay, I have a good idea! Order a Christmas tree from The Living Christmas Company!!
You could do that too! Just go to:
http://livingchristmas.com/
and click on "Rent a Tree".
Each tree comes with a free hug! Okay, maybe not in person, but we will send virtual hugs to everyone who rents from us!! :)
 |
| Scotty Claus, Lauren Peace, and me! |
Care'n Presents
Monday, December 17, 2012
A New Tradition
One of the things we hear a lot at The Living Christmas Company is "...but our family tradition is to go and pick out a tree together!" or "we go to this special location in the mountains and we can cut our own tree, we do it every year!"
I think traditions are great! They keep cultures alive and meaningful. Sometimes, however, I think we can adjust our traditions, and make them our own. For example:
Joe and Betty always bought a cut tree for Christmas. They'd pack up the kids, go down to the nearest lot and together pick out the best, most beautiful tree ever. It was their tradition. They'd bring it home, put lights and decorations on it, and for a while it was the centerpiece of their everyday lives. It would be so beautiful, that each time they'd walk past it, they'd smile. There was a feeling of holiday warmth. When Christmas was over and things started to settle down a bit, they'd take off the lights and ornaments and drag it out to the curb to be picked up. That's just how it went, and that was fine, and yet...the tree always looked a little sad lying there on the street. The color seemed drained out, it no longer sparkled with twinkling lights, and the needles had started falling off. (In fact, Betty would be sweeping up needles for weeks.)
The next year, Joe and Betty went online and found http://livingchristmas.com/. It was a little bit more expensive, but on the upside, there was no strapping the tree to the roof of the car or trying to squeeze it into one of those tree stands with the water pan. Scotty Claus's elves delivered the tree and set it up right where they wanted it. Although it was different from the trees that were at the lot, it was still full and beautiful. Joe and Betty winked at each other, knowing they had the only one of it's kind on the block. They put lights and decorations on it and for a while it was the centerpiece of their everyday lives. It was so beautiful that each time they'd walk past it, they'd smile. There was not only that feeling of holiday warmth, but of life. When Christmas was over, instead of dragging it out to the street (trailing needles galore), the elves came back to pick it up and take it to Scotty's Christmas Tree Forest. But wait! Joe and Betty liked that tree so much, they asked if they could have it again next year. After all, it was alive, right? It would in all likeliness still be alive the next year right?
Scotty Claus curled his mustache, and told them "As a matter of fact, you can have this exact same tree next year." He explained that if they just signed up to "adopt" their tree (and they had to make sure they did sign up), that he could have it bar-coded and identified as Joe and Betty's family tree. They could even name their new Christmas-time member of the family. They named her "Gladys", as in "Glad Tidings" or "Glad to have you here."
This year Gladys came home again. Scotty and the elves took care of her all year; she weathered the weather, and was still standing tall. Instead of packing the kids in the car and going to a lot, their new tradition is to have a little family party when Gladys comes back for the holidays, sort of a "Welcome Home/Merry Christmas/Let's Get the Season Started" party. The kids look forward to seeing Gladys again, almost like she's a present in herself...and she is in a way.
Whatever your tradition is, hopefully it is filled with warmth and life. Enjoy your Christmas with friends, family and whomever (or whatever) you consider family (including pets, trees, furniture...).
Merry Christmas,
Stay Merry!
Care'n Presents
Do you have a story about your Living Christmas tree? E-mail me at carenpresents@livingchristmas.com.
I think traditions are great! They keep cultures alive and meaningful. Sometimes, however, I think we can adjust our traditions, and make them our own. For example:
Joe and Betty always bought a cut tree for Christmas. They'd pack up the kids, go down to the nearest lot and together pick out the best, most beautiful tree ever. It was their tradition. They'd bring it home, put lights and decorations on it, and for a while it was the centerpiece of their everyday lives. It would be so beautiful, that each time they'd walk past it, they'd smile. There was a feeling of holiday warmth. When Christmas was over and things started to settle down a bit, they'd take off the lights and ornaments and drag it out to the curb to be picked up. That's just how it went, and that was fine, and yet...the tree always looked a little sad lying there on the street. The color seemed drained out, it no longer sparkled with twinkling lights, and the needles had started falling off. (In fact, Betty would be sweeping up needles for weeks.)
The next year, Joe and Betty went online and found http://livingchristmas.com/. It was a little bit more expensive, but on the upside, there was no strapping the tree to the roof of the car or trying to squeeze it into one of those tree stands with the water pan. Scotty Claus's elves delivered the tree and set it up right where they wanted it. Although it was different from the trees that were at the lot, it was still full and beautiful. Joe and Betty winked at each other, knowing they had the only one of it's kind on the block. They put lights and decorations on it and for a while it was the centerpiece of their everyday lives. It was so beautiful that each time they'd walk past it, they'd smile. There was not only that feeling of holiday warmth, but of life. When Christmas was over, instead of dragging it out to the street (trailing needles galore), the elves came back to pick it up and take it to Scotty's Christmas Tree Forest. But wait! Joe and Betty liked that tree so much, they asked if they could have it again next year. After all, it was alive, right? It would in all likeliness still be alive the next year right? Scotty Claus curled his mustache, and told them "As a matter of fact, you can have this exact same tree next year." He explained that if they just signed up to "adopt" their tree (and they had to make sure they did sign up), that he could have it bar-coded and identified as Joe and Betty's family tree. They could even name their new Christmas-time member of the family. They named her "Gladys", as in "Glad Tidings" or "Glad to have you here."
This year Gladys came home again. Scotty and the elves took care of her all year; she weathered the weather, and was still standing tall. Instead of packing the kids in the car and going to a lot, their new tradition is to have a little family party when Gladys comes back for the holidays, sort of a "Welcome Home/Merry Christmas/Let's Get the Season Started" party. The kids look forward to seeing Gladys again, almost like she's a present in herself...and she is in a way.
Whatever your tradition is, hopefully it is filled with warmth and life. Enjoy your Christmas with friends, family and whomever (or whatever) you consider family (including pets, trees, furniture...).
Merry Christmas,
Stay Merry!
Care'n Presents
Do you have a story about your Living Christmas tree? E-mail me at carenpresents@livingchristmas.com.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
What's on YOUR Christmas tree?
One thing I love about Christmas trees is that there is truly no right or wrong way to decorate one. Long ago when I was living with a friend and we were well...broke, we put snack sized Frito and Doritos bags on our tree. I knew someone who decorated their potted ficus tree. (Hey, one of the first "living trees", lol). There are some people whose trees are like works of art. They have a theme or a color pallet, or some kind of design. My tree, on the other hand is "eclectic". There are antique ornaments that have been passed down in my family, right next to home-made kindergarten ornaments made with love, by my kids. We have Disney ornaments and ornaments made in foreign countries like Indonesia. Personally, I think our tree is the best in the world.
What I don't have (yet) on our tree, is a Yeti. In my opinion, everyone needs a Yeti or two. I'm sure some of you out there might argue that point. "An abominable snowman?" you ask. Oh no! "Adorable Snowman!" (Monsters Inc., right?) The Living Christmas Company has some of the most adorable snowmen, AKA Yetis, anywhere. You can't just buy these in any old store either! They love to live in Christmas trees, or so I've heard. I'm thinking with the lights and all, it's a lot warmer than a cave in the Himalayas. The best part is, that you can't look at these guys and not smile.
How can you get your own Yeti? I'm going to tell you! Just go to
http://livingchristmas.com and across the top where it says "ORNAMENTS" click on the drop down "Tibetan Ornaments". You'll find them there, smiling at you as if to say "Take me home". How can you resist?
Merry Christmas!
Care'n Presents
What I don't have (yet) on our tree, is a Yeti. In my opinion, everyone needs a Yeti or two. I'm sure some of you out there might argue that point. "An abominable snowman?" you ask. Oh no! "Adorable Snowman!" (Monsters Inc., right?) The Living Christmas Company has some of the most adorable snowmen, AKA Yetis, anywhere. You can't just buy these in any old store either! They love to live in Christmas trees, or so I've heard. I'm thinking with the lights and all, it's a lot warmer than a cave in the Himalayas. The best part is, that you can't look at these guys and not smile.How can you get your own Yeti? I'm going to tell you! Just go to
http://livingchristmas.com and across the top where it says "ORNAMENTS" click on the drop down "Tibetan Ornaments". You'll find them there, smiling at you as if to say "Take me home". How can you resist?
Merry Christmas!
Care'n Presents
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