Reasons Why I like Gifts Cards - an article that I found

MYTH: ALL GREEN GIFTS ARE CREATED EQUALLY

[Give the gift of reusables - visit our Gift Center]

Giving reusables is the smartest way to make a difference by reducing consumption and saving money and natural resources.

Because modern culture's gift-giving often comes at the expense of the environment, many people are looking for more earth-friendly gifts. Unfortunately, the popularity of "green gifts" has lead to an overwhelming number of products that are labeled "green" but in reality, aren't.

Two of the biggest threats to our natural environment are the consumption of resources and the increasing accumulation of waste that threatens our wildlife and our own health. Many so-called green gifts just add to this problem, by creating more stuff we don't need and likely won't use. Even if something is made of recycled material or contributed to the purchase of a carbon off-set, that eco-trinket is ultimately just more stuff headed for the landfill.

Furthermore, there's a reason "reduce" and "reuse" appear before "recycle" in the mantra "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle." While recycling has its place in helping the environment and should be done whenever possible, as consumers move their attention and actions "upstream" towards reducing consumption, a far greater impact on the environment can be made.

As it is, the holidays produce more waste than any other time of the year. During the month of December, it's been estimated that households generate about 1 million extra tons of garbage per week. To battle this wasteful, harmful mindset, consider giving gifts that actually help people consume less, and gift a reusable.

Reusables, our term for smart, practical items designed to help people consume less, will empower someone to preserve resources and save money, too (you can't say that about most eco-trinkets!). Examples range from stylish reusable shopping bags and reusable bottles to paper towel replacements, replacements for common household disposables, personal items and more. Innovative, eco-friendly and functional, they continue to give back after each use. Check out our gift section here.

When you gift a "reusable" you effectively empower the recipient to reduce thousands and thousands of disposables. Collectively, this can have a huge impact.

For more information, read our press release on our Top 10 Holiday Gifts that help people consume less.

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Denial...

It ain't a just a river in Africa! (Bazinga!)

I have been in denial for, well I guess since my last post.

First, I am in denial that it is November 22. Somehow it seems like it is still August. In a few days Kevan and I will have lived at my grandparents' house for five months, this is a lot longer than we had expected. I have survived day by day, but I tell you this...the walls are getting closer and closer.

Second, I was so eager to return to Wisconsin that I never really thought about what it would be like to return and if I really wanted to return anyhow. When I left, I was 25 still a kid in many ways. I still remember the ideal of my family and was so eager to get back to what it was or at least what I thought it was. Now returning as an adult, the luster has faded, the glitter has fallen off and I am realizing that there was a lot that I did not taken into account about my family when I wanted to move back home.

Being here has been great and I don't think that I am saying I would like to leave again. However, I should have been a little less eager to return as quickly as I did. I have been able to be here to participate in some of the ways that I was hoping to, but for some of my family members it doesn't matter who is around because they are so enmeshed in their patterns that with or without me life goes as it always has. I have been in denial about what my purpose was going to be when I got back.

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Perhaps some of you might be thinking I was in denial before we moved. Denial about how hard it was going to be when we got here. Moving to Wisconsin in the middle of a terrible recession/depression without jobs is not the best idea. To you I still say we are Brave and not smart but Brave.

The other day, Kevan and I were in the car and we somehow got onto the discussion of hall government in Abel Hall (Abel being the residence hall we both worked in and shared a hall government.). The conversation was like turning on the hot water full blast and the water being instantly hot. We had very different opinions of what we were talking about, and felt strongly about what were trying to say. We were clearly frustrated and began to "fight" with each other. I don't feel like we have had such a heated discussion like that since we left Nebraska - at least not about something as trivial or lacking overall impact on our life as hall government. This however was a discussion we got into at least three times a week while we worked together and it would not have been any better if we stayed even if one of us quite.

Something I have to remind myself is that Kevan and I have not even been able to set ourselves up here yet. Right now we are still living in someone else's house, depending on others (what a bitter taste admitting that). Of course everything isn't going to be all great right away we are not in a position to do that yet. No it has not been what we expected, but we have had an awesome time being around the people that we each love. It has been great to be here for my family and for Kevan's family. I may be in denial, but maybe not - maybe I am just focusing on the positive :) and I am not so worried about the setbacks and the unexpected.