Christmas Cheer For A Greener Year

One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is sending out Christmas cards.  In the busyness of every day life, and amidst the technology crazy world of blackberries, iPhones and constantly accessible email it's pretty rare to actually receive something in the mail from a loved one.  This is perhaps why I love sending Christmas Cards.  It's almost like bringing back the lost art of writing letters.  I love that little rush of happiness when I see an envelope in the mail that can't be anything but a Christmas card! 

What I don't love about sending out Christmas cards is only one thing...  It's SO much wastage of paper!  Every New Year I can't help but feeling guilty about what to do with the pile of Christmas Cards I receive, and wondering what has happen to the ones I sent out.  I prefer picture cards, which can't always be recycled very easily... or so I thought!  In the past year I've gotten much more committed to really thinking about my actions and how they're affecting me, my overall health and the environment.  So this year, when I started my search for Christmas cards I was so pleased with what I found!!

There are so many options for recycled cards, and they're just as festive (and around the same price) as the store bought or special order cards I've gotten in the past.  Paper Culture is the company that I've decided to go with this year, and I have to say I think our cards are pretty darn cute.  I love the philosophy of this company.  Not only do they use recycled paper for their cards and envelopes, I was also able to choose from loads of templates and different picture cards.  In addition, for the cost of postage they will mail all your cards to your recipients for you.  Of course, for an additional charge, you can have the cards shipped to you and then mail them out yourself.  However, Paper Culture strongly urges against this as it's more costly to you, and it increases the carbon footprint of your cards as they are then being shipped twice.  Once to you, and then once to your recipient.

The icing on the cake for me is that Paper Culture has joined forces with the Arbour Day Foundation, and for every order placed will plant a tree in the US National Forest.  Now, I do wish they had a Canadian site, and a Canadian National Forest, but this is a step in the right direction I feel.

Paper Culture is by no means the only company that offers a great selection on recycled and environmentally friendly card choices.  Here's a list of other great resources and companies that I came across through my research!

My Good Greetings

Gallery Collection

Pear Tree Greetings

Sierra Club

Green Field Paper   - This company also has recycled gift wrap for all those presents under the tree!

Mostly all of these also do cards for every occasion from birthday parties, to wedding invitations, engagement and baby announcements... you name it!!  I wish I had known about these when I was getting married!!

Enjoy your holiday preparations!

Christmas Comes Early In Canada

While growing up in New Jersey, it was SO painful waiting all the way through November before you could get to thanksgiving before it was finally time to get ready for Christmas!!!

Oh... but not in Canada!  That's right my American friends, Thanksgiving comes early in Canada, which means that so does the hype up to Christmas!!  This weekend is Thanksgiving Weekend in Canada and it could not come a moment sooner for The Monahans!  It's been a relatively stressful few weeks for both of us and Jon and I are desperately looking forward to some time in Lockeport with the family.  It's been a little while since we've had a proper visit down and with everything that has been going on it'll be nice to take a moment to relax and focus on what's really important - family time!!  :)   

I have to say what I'm most thankful for this thanksgiving is having amazing family around me.  Especially my in-laws.  My parents live in New Jersey and very rarely are able to make their way up here to Nova Scotia so it makes such a huge difference to have in-laws that truly are family.  I feel so bad for friends when they grimace at the thought of spending time with their in-laws.  I'm so grateful to have an additional family in them, and a home away from home.  Can't wait to share some wine over board games... Me and mom in law are huge board game fans so hopefully I'll be able to talk hubby into some board games while we're home for the weekend.  I'll also be taking the first pumpkin pie of the season down with us!  YUM!

Although it's definitely easier some times than other....there's something beautiful in stopping and thinking about the things we're thankful for in our life.  

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving... whether you're celebrating this weekend or in November!   :) 

Happy Birthday Canada... And The Navy Too!!

Canada Day is Jon's FAVORITE holiday, hands down.  He loves it more than Christmas and his birthday... combined.  I haven't quite figured out why but he absolutely loves it!!  So I was thrilled that he got in from sea early and we were able to enjoy the festivities for it!

This Canada day was very special because it was also the 100th Anniversary of the Canadian Navy, and I have always had a fascination with the Navy.  The morning of Canada Day Jon and I headed down to the Halifax waterfront to check out all the amazing Navy boats from all over the world in town to celebrate with us!  We actually also got a tour of a Danish ship.  It was the largest in the Danish Navy, and actually had two docks for helicopters on board, and had one helicopter there.  Pretty cool stuff!!  :o)  Unfortunately I had forgotten my camera so these are pics that I looked up of the ship online, from the Danish Navy website.

After checking out the waterfront, and grabbing some burgers on the boardwalk for lunch we headed home for a nap.  (It was at this point that we realized we are officially old....hehe.)  And then we were off to the Joel Plaskett concert at Alderny Landing on the Dartmouth Waterfront.  It was good music, fireworks and a great time enjoying a beautiful and very special Canada Day with my hunny.  Luckily, this time I remembered my camera!

Holiday Travels

So we are finally back from our holiday travels, and back into the swing of things in Halifax. We're both really excited about 2009 and what this year will bring. The holiday treats were delicious. The new recipes for the stocking stuffers came out perfect, and were a hit!! Here are some quick snapshots of our holiday adventures!

Stocking Stuffer Yummies!!

So this year, since it will be our first Christmas as husband and wife I really want to go over the top and add all the special touches to the holidays. I was looking for some fun and unique ideas for stocking stuffers! We like to try to keep stocking stuffers cheap, but sentimental and thoughtful. I ofcourse will be making my signature peanut butter homemade fudge, and I may possibly try my hand at some mocha almond biscotti again. (I burnt my last batch, and it was less mocha and more mush-a-mush.) A good friend of mine also recommended this blog to me, http://bakerella.blogspot.com/2008/12/its-beginning-to-look-lot-like.html. I plan on making these raindeer cake pops, and cannot wait to see how they turn out!! I am also going to try the recipe for red velvet cake balls covered in Chocolate!! I am sure this will be a huge hit for the inlaws, and I'll have to save a few for the family back home! :)

Christmas With The Monahans!

It has been a very busy December here in Halifax. We have been very excited about the holidays, and are gearing up for the Christmas Season!! Our Christmas tree is finally up, and we did put up a few ornaments and decorations around the house. I am still searching for the perfect "Our First Christmas" ornament!! We are really excited about this being our first Christmas as husband and wife!! Here are some pics of our tree, and other Christmas festivities!



Holiday Cheer! :)


One of my favorite ornaments... until we find "Our First Christmas"



You can see Jon and I snuggling in this Christmas Ball! :)


Homemade knit scarves for special someone's under the tree!



Our tree, slowly but surely Santa keeps putting more under!

Apple & Pumpkin Picking!

This fall has kept us very busy with various apple picking, pumpkin picking, trips to local Vineyards and fishing... Not to mention loads of baking yummy fall treats!! Here are some shots of how we've been enjoying the gorgeous fall weather in the Maritimes!