Like I mentioned in the #GivingTuesday post, volunteering is something that I like to do when I have the time. During the holidays there are always organizations that are looking for volunteers. I know that the holiday season is almost over, but that doesn't mean you can't volunteer for various organizations. Check out volunteermatch.org, volunteerhouston.org or visit your favorite non profit. I volunteered for NAMI Houston gift wrapping at Barnes and Nobles (found through volunteermatch.org) and also I volunteered in crafts section for the MFAH Breakfast with Santa event.
You can also give to various organizations. There are tons of non profits, but ones that I am fond of for personal reasons are Texas Children's Hospital and MD Anderson Children's Cancer Center. Either organization would love donations with products http://bit.ly/1doqyzZ & http://bit.ly/18ALzVh or monetarily http://bit.ly/1bVtQOk & http://bit.ly/19gzxnB. I also love giving to the World Wildlife Fund and the Nature Conservancy.
Here are some organizations that are always in need:
- Toys for Tots
- Habitat for
Humanity
- Blue Santa
- Local Hospitals
- Food Banks
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I saw these tinsel pom poms at Target that I really wanted them, but they were kind of expensive to me at $4 for 2. I decided to make my own. I just got a strand of tinsel garland 15ft for $3.50 and made about 25 pom poms. I just cut about 2"strands, made a circle and stapled them together to make poms. It was super simple and easy.
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I love sending cards in general, but here are the Christmas cards that I sent out this year to family and friends. I put a lot of detail into my cards, so it feels like it takes me forever to write them. I've noticed most of the cards that we have been getting this year are picture cards with printed messages on them. Since most of our friends now have children there are always pictures of the kids. Since not all the post offices by us will hand cancel, I went to a different one that does on Greenbriar and Richmond. (which on a side note: the people at the Greenbriar and Richmond post office are really nice and not rude)
So I had every intention of writing more blog posts this month, but honestly work has been crazy and I just haven't felt like writing on here when I get home. I know this little post may be coming a little late, but here are some eco holiday tips you can follow.
- If you shop
online try to get a majority of your items from the same place so you can
reduce the amount of packaging you use
- Make your own
gifts i.e. scarves, mittens, jellies, pastries, etc.
- Plan your
shopping trips so you don’t have to drive as much and ride your bike whenever
possible
- Bring your own
bags
- Try wrapping
gifts with the comics section, reuse old paper maps, and spare scrap pieces of
cloth
- Send holiday
cards by using cards made of recycled paper or send e-cards
- Buy vintage gift
items or gifts cards to reduce on the amount of packaging
- Buy LED lights
for the outside of your house and tree
- If you are using
candles during the holiday season buy soy or beeswax candles
- Make or reuse
your old decorations or if you must buy new ones buy from resale shops
- For parties buy
or cater locally
- Don’t use
disposable plates, silverware, etc
- Stay home instead
of traveling
- Carpool whenever
you can, especially if you will be making a lot of trips to the store
Today is #GivingTuesday, which is a national day of giving at the start of the holiday season. There are various ways you can give to different organizations:
- Volunteer
- Donate money
- Donate items
- Amazon has something called AmazonSmile that you can sign up for. I just found out about it yesterday and I use Amazon ALL the time. 0.5% of qualifying purchases will go to a charity that you chose from on Amazon.
Today I am going to donate some children's books to Discovery Green for their Toddler Tuesdays. I am also planning on giving to and volunteering for some other organizations during this holiday season as well. There are several organizations that I like to volunteer with throughout the year and give monetary donations at the beginning of the year to various organizations.
Do you have any organizations that you like to volunteer with or give to?
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