Recycling for Christmas!

A couple of years ago, after spending TOO much money on Christmas gifts, I suggested to my family that one of the gifts we give each other should be "recycled". Our definition of recycled in this case is pretty liberal.....the item can be bought at a thrift or second-hand store, or it can be something we have that we no longer want and think someone on our Christmas list might like. Of course, I have been known to drop a hint or two when I visit my kids or my mom.....they have lots of things I wish they'd recycle to me this Christmas!


Along the lines of recycling for Christmas, right now I am in the midst of recycling old draperies, lace tablecloths and other vintage linens into beautiful, one of a kind Christmas stockings which I hope to have listed on my website, Cozy Cottage Gifts and Decor,very soon.

Happy recycling everyone!

The little things count too......

Reduce....the amount of the Earth's resources that we use.
Reuse....don't just bin it, could someone else make use of it?
Recycle....can the materials be made into something new?

Recycling doesn't always have to be BIG event.....there are many small ways we can reduce, reuse and recycle every day. I regularly reuse plastic shopping bags to line the small trash cans in my house instead of purchasing small size trash bags at the store. The way I see it, if I empty my six trashcans once a week I have REUSED 312 plastic shopping bags and REDUCED my plastic consumption by 312 trash bags each year. At about 20 trash bags per box purchased new that is about 15.5 boxes of trash bags I HAVEN'T purchased each year. If everyone practiced this recycling effort just think of how many less plastic trashbags would need to be produced every year!

Another small effort I make has to do with water conservation. If I (or anyone else in my family) doesn't drink the full glass of water they have poured, I use the left-over water to water my houseplants. Why pour that water down the drain when it can be put to good use?

Now....I would like to hear some little ways YOU reduce, reuse or recycle. Just leave a comment after this post telling us what you do and I will add your comments to my blog.

Yes, you CAN make a difference!

Welcome to Twice Upon a Time!

Because I live in a rural area where we don't have a recycling center available, I worried that I had not been doing my part to recycle and conserve. Suddenly one day it occurred to me that I have actually been recycling all of my adult life without even realizing it!

Merriam-Webster defines the term "recycle" as: to adapt to a new use, to make ready for reuse and to bring back. Each one of these definitions can be applied to my decorating projects. When I shop, I never shop for new items. My favorite shopping venues are auctions, estate sales, thrift stores, yard sales, fleamarkets and antique shops. My own personal decorating style leans toward the shabby cottage look; however, I have helped others decorate in a more minimalistic style. Both of these looks were achieved without purchasing anything that was brand new, never used.

If this type of recycling interests you be sure to check back soon for upcoming posts in which I will show you pictures of my 1920s cottage completely decorated and furnished with recycled, second-hand, and hand-me-down items that have been given a new life. Meantime, please take a minute to scroll to the bottom of this page and take my shopping poll.