tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154988466625586293.post2858775543237689672..comments2023-09-01T04:45:22.849-04:00Comments on small house, big picture: philosophy of a smaller christmasdwerrleinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917174708039425122noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154988466625586293.post-35875479137352828152012-04-03T12:31:18.611-04:002012-04-03T12:31:18.611-04:00such great ideas to not get taken over by a consum...such great ideas to not get taken over by a consumer culture.<br /><br />i read recently someone said her kids get 3 gifts at christmas - if it is good enough for jesus, it's good enough for them!Meredith Selfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14209263663600610674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154988466625586293.post-84830841461936023312012-01-02T16:24:42.431-05:002012-01-02T16:24:42.431-05:00love the idea of coupons at xmas - exchanging serv...love the idea of coupons at xmas - exchanging services within the family instead of plastic stuff! i will keep that in mind for next year. i bake all of our family's bread, and I know my mom would love to have more of it than she gets. I could give her coupons for bread loaves throughout the year.dwerrleinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05917174708039425122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154988466625586293.post-43743542625760339402011-12-30T12:37:24.790-05:002011-12-30T12:37:24.790-05:00Good ideas Deb, I just hate it when I see old Chri...Good ideas Deb, I just hate it when I see old Christmas paper trash flying by my window on a windy January day! Our family likes giving "coupons" to help family members or close friends. For example, my brother lives alone and doesn't get homeade food very much. I gave him a "coupon" for lazagna, (made by yours truly) which he can freeze and enjoy at his leisure. I gave my mom a salvaged wrought iron cafe set (circa 1950s) with a "coupon" that we will work to restore it in the spring when the weather is warm. Family members can help each other out with their strenghts and weaknesses. My husband has tons of energy to do stuff (strength) but does not understand technology (weakness)so my son gave him a "coupon" to help him set up something on the computer. My high energy husband will no doubt, get the task of scraping off the rust on that cafe set. Our extended families are like a little community, so why not organize the "coupon" system this time of year to help each other out while conserving in just about every category.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154988466625586293.post-88811536071466510202011-12-22T22:10:20.966-05:002011-12-22T22:10:20.966-05:00Thalassa, let me know if you figure out the bags! ...Thalassa, let me know if you figure out the bags! Solar powered lights is a great idea! I just googled them. You can get them from Amazon, but they're expensive - $30 for 35 ft. Maybe I could buy 1 string a year and collect them. Every little bit counts! <br /><br />Jennifer, I'm so sad someone is selling the charlie brown xmas tree! yes, i'd say that is missing the point! I've always loved that show for its anti-materialist msg. How ironic to sell a plastic version of the tree Charlie bought precisely because it wasn't fake! I'm with you on trying to reduce something every year. It's important to value the little steps--otherwise we'd never get anywhere!dwerrleinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05917174708039425122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154988466625586293.post-50865931408299685782011-12-21T23:21:11.643-05:002011-12-21T23:21:11.643-05:00So true, Deb. What great ideas. ...Seems like we, ...So true, Deb. What great ideas. ...Seems like we, as a culture, didn't learn the anti-commercialism moral of Charlie Brown's Christmas. If anything, consumerism seems to have gotten worse. Now you can even BUY the "Charlie Brown Christmas Tree"! It's cute, but... doesn't the plastic reproduction somehow miss the point?<br /><br />Anyway it's hard not to succumb to the excess at this time of year, but I'm trying. I feel guilty when I add to the waste stream! One thing I decided to stop was buying those candy-filled plastic canes. It had become an unspoken tradition to have a couple of those poking out of the stockings on Christmas mornings... the M&M's with the plastic train cars on top, the canes filled with peanut butter cups, the chocolate kisses. But not this year. I resisted buying them-- even when I found them on sale yesterday. It's just too much unnecessary crap. ...I'm doubting my daughter will miss these on Christmas morning. We'll soon find out... then I'll try to reduce some more next year. :)Bladehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06980551070973105756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3154988466625586293.post-86577967382877365062011-12-20T16:35:04.934-05:002011-12-20T16:35:04.934-05:00I love the idea of reusable fabric gift bags! I w...I love the idea of reusable fabric gift bags! I will have to get crafty and figure that one out... As a somewhat shameful lover of the lights, I have to admit my total excitement last winter in finding solar powered LED lights..but strangely, I haven't seen any this year.thalassahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08374925649429207429noreply@blogger.com