Clear the Mantel: It's time for Shutterfly Holiday Cards

(Disclosure: I don't normally write posts in the spirit of advertising, but since this is a product I actually use and love, I'm making an exception. :)

A few years ago, JC made me a card on Shutterfly.com from the pumpkin for father's day. I was so impressed by the quality of it, that I... well, that years later, I remember it was from Shutterfly!

(Actual card featured in a dramatic re-enactment)

Good looking card, good lookin' kid.

Having been a Kodak gallery household in the past, we now only purchase products from Shutterfly because they just look better. Also, the prices are amazing -- the Folded Greeting Cards cost under a buck fifty, and look way better than anything from your local card shop. And everyone at work knows I cherish my annually-updated coffee mugs:

Year three is at the office, waiting to greet me on Monday morning

Really, this place has good quality, good service and good prices. You can't beat it. We've bought ceramic mugs, thermal mugs, cards, magnets and for the past two years, we made our holiday cards there. And as soon as the stork leaves us with baby #2, this year's card is off to Shutterfly as well. Less than 4 weeks left to go!

If you're interested in getting some photo cards or gifts this holiday season, check them out. Need some links? Kabam! Invitations, holiday cards, Desk calendars, Hanukkah cards, Christmas ornaments and more.

One more incentive? JC, my deal-finder-extraordinaire, says that all cards are currently 20%-30% off (as of 11/19/10). Free shipping with $30 purchase, code SHIP30.

Shutterfly Folded card from 2008... has it really been that long?

Out with the old... tree, that is

It's that time of year again. Time to reclaim your living room and throw out that holiday tree. You won't miss it too much. After all, you'll be finding it's needles until next Christmas. Here's the news release from New York's Strongest:

Sanitation Begins Christmas Tree Recycling on January 5th
Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty announced today that the Department will begin its annual Christmas tree curbside collection and recycling program on Monday, January 5, 2009. The program will run through Friday, January 16th.

Residents should remove all tree stands, tinsel, lights, and ornaments from holiday trees before they are put out at curbside for removal. Trees must not be placed into plastic bags. Clean, non-bagged Christmas trees that are left at the curb between Monday, January 5th and Friday, January 16th will be collected, chipped, and made into compost. The compost will be processed and subsequently spread upon parks, ball fields, and community gardens throughout the city.

In January 2008, the Department collected over 160,000 discarded Christmas trees.

"The Department is very pleased to offer this special recycling service. Providing collection and recycling options for residents is environmentally valuable and benefits our neighborhoods. Working in conjunction with the City's Parks & Recreation Department allows residents to take part in the recycling process and permits them to even reuse their composted Christmas trees to fertilize for the spring. Compost is a natural fertilizer and is an excellent soil enrichment that promotes the healthy growth of plants and grass," said Commissioner Doherty.

The Parks & Recreation Department will be hosting Mulchfest 2009 on Saturday, January 10th and Sunday, January 11th from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. at more than 80 sites throughout the city. To find citywide locations, visit the Parks & Recreation website at www.nyc.gov/parks. The citywide service allows New Yorkers to drop off their holiday trees at designated parks for mulching and event attendees can pick up free mulch. All lights, ornaments, and decorations must be removed from the trees prior to drop-off.

For more information on Christmas tree collection and recycling and/or Mulchfest 2009, visit www.nyc.gov/sanitation or www.nyc.gov/parks or call 3-1-1

We'll be getting ours out to the curb this Sunday. Not to beat the rush, or to be the cool ones who do it first, but to end the constant struggle between Pumpkin's natural curiosity about an indoor pine tree and the dubious structural integrity of a $4.95 tree stand. At this point, the stand has become less a water dish for the tree, and more a water dish for the cats. Disposing of the tree will be our first act of simplifying in 2009... until the end of the year when we do it all over again.

Uncluttering Christmas with Thoughtful Gifts... not just buying 'stuff' so you have something to give

Pumpkin bargain hunting at a craft store.

Yes, yes, I know, last year Columbia wrote a post on uncluttering gift ideas but I love that the topic is becoming more and more popular. Also, who can't use more ideas for thoughtful gifts that don't take up much space?

This is why I salivated all over Northern Cheapskate's post on 7 Gifts for People Who Have Everything. It's not just 7 gifts, by the way, it's 7 amazing ideas that don't just speak to buying for those hard-to-buy-for-friends-and-relatives but also elaborates on being especially thoughtful in your gift giving. It will not surprise you to know that Columbia and I are a big fan of #6: Experiences. This has always been a favorite gift to give each other. A night away to a B&B, a frugal but fun weekend in Boston, a 'Saturdate' with all the trimmings, or tickets to a favorite show or game have showed much more thoughtfulness than just a gift wrapped under the tree. I may have even liked them better than jewelry (Columbia, when you read this, know that this is true but I do absolutely love the above mentioned sparklies).

If you are finding yourself more and more drawn to DIY, then Sew, Mama, Sew has ideas for every person on your gift-giving list. Sew, Mama, Sew is also posting great ideas submitted by their readers, like this one on homemade Irish Cream (scroll down - Yum!), so check their site daily for more ideas.

I have been inspired so much this year that I am not sure how I am going to get to all of the projects I have planned. Putting up Christmas decorations might be a good start, though...

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular... if only there was an even better word to describe it

I love, love, love the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Go ahead and call me cheesy and sentimental. Or mental. It really is wonderful, though, and guaranteed to give you chills and put a smile on your face. It might even be responsible for making NYC a kinder and gentler place during the holiday season.

"Okay, okay", you say "But why blog about it today? There are still 47 days until Christmas." Today is the first show for the 2008 season! Really. And as any savvy New Yorker knows, it's the early bird that gets the good deals. Check out their schedule and use promotion code 54ORCHWEB to get 25% off. This may only apply to non-peak days (those whose lowest price seats start at $42). If we find another code we'll let you know. If you know of one, please email us or leave the info in the comments section.

I can't wait until Pumpkin is old enough to enjoy this! It really is one of those New York City musts.

UPDATE!!! (12/3/08)
I just got an email with a code for 50% off tickets! Use code DECBOGO and you can find the elligible perfomances here.

Amazon takes away your pain, gives you money.

Amazon has launched a "Frustration-Free Packaging" initiative to save you frustration and money. Get a load of this: In the spirit of the lazy environmentalist (“I'll be green, just don't expect me to alter my habits”), Amazon worked with manufacturers and has found a way to:

• ...give you the same great quality products
• ...let you order the same (same shipping, same process)
  
• ...deliver these products in packaging that results in less waste
• ...get rid of "did-they-make-this-barbie-%#@$%ing-secure-enough!?" twisty-ties
• ...get rid of "I-need-a-boxcutter-to-open-this-boxcutter" blisterpacks
• ...even save you a few pennies at the same time

Check out this video that shows two adults who have pirate ship fetishes. The time savings is less motivating to me than the savings in sanity (I hate blisterpacks) and the reduction of waste. Saving money is never a bad thing either!



Check out Amazon's full list of frustration-free packaging. I'm telling you, one of these days I'm going to come home and find that Amazon.com has sent me some cookies and a homemade blanket. What a sweet bunch of folks...

Don't pitch that pine!

How would you like to help New York City grow? How about reducing space in your local landfill? What's that? You do? Well, you're in luck, for all you need this weekend is one pine tree, much like the one in your living room.

Bring your Christmas tree (sans ornaments and lights, pine needles optional) to a mulchfest site this coming weekend.

• Locations in all boroughs
• Jan 5th and 6th
• 10am - 2pm.

For more info and to find locations near you, check out NYC's mulchfest site.


Picture taken by me, 2007

Christmas cards and uncluttering gift ideas

A little less than 10 years ago, I had to answer that annual question that some people love to answer and other people hate to answer: what do you want for your birthday? I fall in the latter category.

I've always felt very fortunate to have all that I need in life at a given day, and as an apartment dweller, space is always at a premium. I decided to ask for an "experience", big or small. Something that wasn't a "thing." The idea wasn't well received. My sister took the challenge and got me two books: "Short Escapes Near New York City" and "Short Bike Rides in and around New York City". While books are technically things, the spirit of the idea was there. DW and I recently used one of them on a trip to Shelter Island and Mystic, CT.

That brings me this great series of Christmas season posts from Unclutterer: consumable gift giving.

2007 Unclutterer Gift Giving Guide:
(Contents, with direct links to the featured parts)

• Focus for the guide
• Charitable giving
• Buying for children
• Ultimate generosity
• Consumable giving
• Experience giving
• Online giving

I really like the ideas of consumable giving (things that we need, will be used up and then don't take up space), though the idea of making them "gift-worthy" requires a little creativity.

And if you've got x-acto blades lying around your house, here are some great card ideas, via lifehacker: DIY Christmas Cards [lifehacker]
The evergreen card whispers in my ear: "I look easy, but you're going to pull your hair out trying to make one that looks as elegant as me." Game on, Mr. Douglas fir... Game on.