Christmas Trees Redefined

We choose not to have a traditional Christmas tree in our home. A cut tree is kind of depressing, watching it die, and the container for a live tree ends up being a "litter box" for our cats. Also, we don't have to worry about our dogs knocking decorations off of the tree with their tails.

Instead, we go "green" by not having a green tree. We've repurposed two jewelry hangers into adorable and classy "trees," saving both the environment and money!










This jewelry tree, purchased from IKEA holds my long necklaces throughout the year, then with the addition of LED microlights (purchased from Target), some reusable silver starry garland, and our smallest ornaments, we have a wonderful wintry white tree, surrounded by an angel, polar bear, and Christmas dog. Cost: $5 for reusable tree, $6 for one set of LED microlights (needs 4 AA batteries), various for ornaments and garland.

















This classy chrome jewelry hanger, purchased from Container Store usually holds a fun collection of bottle openers and key chains. (I'll post a pic after the holidays.) The hanger's sleek design inspired me to buy one set of small tree ball ornaments (from Target) and arrange them on the hanger and fill the bottom with leftovers.

















I added a "glitter ball" I bought last year for a craft project from Hobby Lobby to the center for extra shine. Cost: $20 for the hanger, $6 for the ornaments, nothing for the glitter ball.






















I've seen at stores this year metal tree shapes with hooks for ornaments. They're cute, but I would rather buy something I can use all year round.

Maybe you need a larger tree, one to put presents around? Here's a clever use for a found object!

This six-foot chrome clothing rack is usually found in a department store. From January to November, it holds clothes in my closet, but in December it's transformed!

By wrapping white wire lights around it and adding our ornaments and a tree topper, we have a sturdy, dead-needle-free Christmas tree. Our tree skirt fit neatly around it and we have the perfect place for Santa to leave us presents. The ornaments are hung on the small hanger balls evenly-spaced around the rack, er, tree. We can see all of our ornaments from every angle.











Since the "tree" is meant to hold many heavy shirts or trousers, we don't worry about the ornaments' weight. The rack is tall enough to keep doggie tails and reaching cats away from most, if not all, of the ornaments. Cost: $0 - found rack, previously purchased ornaments, light, and tree skirt.




















We here at Totem Media, L.C. wish you and yours the brightest, merriest, and safest of holidays!

Happy Earth Day!

It's Earth Day! Plant a tree, don't litter, walk to the corner store. Every little bit helps!

Farmer's Market Produce

I went to a local farmer's market and bought these vegetable.



I think they look great, they tasted very good, and were actually cheaper than my local grocery store. I paid $6.79 for everything here. I checked the prices at the store, and would have paid at least $5 more.

Although for some food I might end up paying more at a farmer's market, the extra cost should be worth it because of the better quality, freshness (which means higher nutrition), and taste.

I used these vegetables to make a yummy steak salad. Based upon a dish at The Elephant and Castle chain of pubs, I cooked some steak tips, onions, and peppers. I put this delicious mixture on top of romaine lettuce, red leaf lettuce, chopped mushrooms, chopped tomatoes, and bleu cheese. The dressing was a homemade balsamic vinaigrette, using Penzey's Italian Dressing base.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Totem Media & the Environment

Everyone at Totem Media believes in minimizing our impact on the environment. Here are a few things we do.

1. We use natural light during the day. We use the minimum number of lights necessary at night. Our light fixtures are fluorescent.

2. We turn off our computers and monitors when they are not in use.

3. We recycle paper, plastic, glass, tin, and aluminum.

4. We use canvas bags when we shop. When we get plastic grocery sacks, we reuse them.

5. We use fans and localized air conditioning in the summer, instead of cooling the entire building.

6. We buy organic, when possible, and compost our vegetable scraps.

7. We combine errands requiring driving and drive during off-peak hours.