thankful

While addressing my Christmas card this evening, catching up on my blogs, listening to holiday music and just plain relaxing, I tried to take a moment and realize how much I have to be thankful for.

My husband. My son. My family. They are my world. I get excited every day to pick my son up from daycare, just knowing that I'm going to see his huge grin and he'll run right atme, arms wide open. I don't exactly get this from my husband every time...but I know he's happy to see me too ;) We are so blessed.

My parents. Writing this post made me realize I need more pictures with my parents, I obviously had to go back a few years. I have so much to be thankful to them for and seeing them as grandparents adds an entirely new emotional tie with them. I knew my mom would make a great grandmother, but seeing my dad with Connor melts my heart. My in-laws are amazing too, definitely lucked out there. They are the most kind and genuine people and I know that they'd be there for us in a heartbeat. No question.

  

My friends. New friends, old friends, college friends and work friends. I am thankful for each and every one of them. I know I can call any of them at any time and also know that if it's a month or two between calls we can still pick right up where we left off.

My health. I am thankful that I'm able. Able to run around chasing Connor, able to play in multiple volleyball leagues throughout the year and able to train for and complete a half marathon. I have truly made an effort recently to be healthier and not take things for granted. I want to be chasing after Connor for many years to come and completing many more half marathons, maybe even a full marathon. This will require me to start making healthier choices in life. I can do it!

I hope you have the time to take a moment in the next few days to remind yourself what you have to be thankful for, I promise you it will bring a smile to your face. I'd love to hear your comments tonight or tomorrow of something you're thankful for!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
 
 

10 Tips For an Eco-Friendly Holiday Season:

'Tis the season to be GREEN! This holiday season keep your eco-friendly efforts going with these tips to make it a very special season ‘green’tings for your friends and family!

1. Shop Green. Keep down your costs and environmental impact by shopping online. You will save yourself a trip to the store and those long lines. Have the gifts sent directly to the receiver; this way it won’t be sent twice and you save a little extra money. If you have to go to the store, plan shopping trips in advance and carpool to save extra trips to the mall and the grocery store.
2. Bring Your Own Bag. This year– BYOB to the stores with you. Not only will your shopping tote hold your holiday list, but you’ll also feel good knowing you save a few plastic bags in the process. If you have left over bags from shopping, use them for wrapping the gifts or as a trash can liner.
3. Eco-Wrapping Solutions. Find alternatives to wrapping paper. Some of my favorites include:  Using the newspaper comics section for a pop of color or brown grocery bags dressed up with ribbon. For a really trendy look, buy vintage tins at a thrift stores to wrap your presents. Use old holiday cards to create a unique gift tag to tie it all together. Remember, save the bows and ribbons you receive from others for next year.
4. The Gift That Keeps On Giving: For those hard to buy for on your list this year, make a donation to their favorite charity, have a tree planted in their honor, or buy a gift card to their favorite restaurant. Find trendy gifts that are eco-friendly, fair trade, or made from recycled materials online. Offer your services such as babysitting, cooking, or helping someone move. All of these gifts will certainly not be forgotten and won’t end up in next year’s trash.
5. Set a Green Table: Instead of disposable plates, cups, and napkins, opt for cloth napkins and re-usable dishes. Serving dishes can be rented or purchased from restaurant supply stores, or IKEA. After the event, un-needed pieces can be resold on e-bay. If your event calls for disposable pieces, opt for those made from corn or potatoes, these are easily biodegradable compared to Styrofoam or plastic.
6. Waste Not. Buy locally grown organic food to feed your friends and family this year. To reduce waste, buy in large quantities; one large bottle is better than five small ones. Send leftovers home with guests, or donate them to local food kitchens and remember to compost your scraps.
7. Green Christmas Tree. Opt for a real tree, grown from a local tree farm instead of the plastic versions in the stores. One acre of a tree farm creates oxygen to support 18 people and remove 13 tons of airborne pollutants per year. When the holidays are over, contact your city officials to find out where you can take it in for recycling. Recycled trees are used for mulch, and other landscaping uses.
8. Add a Twinkle To Your Holiday. Recycle those old, worn-out, broken and outdated strings of twinkle lights and replace them with LED lights. LED lights use only 1/50^th the energy of regular holiday lights and don’t create a fire hazard!  Turn off your lights at night to save even more energy. Go to HolidayLEDs.com for more information on recycling your old lights.
9. Festive Décor. Be creative this year using what you find in your own backyard. Make edible decorations such as popcorn strings and cranberry wreaths. Cut down a few bows for décor around the house or collect pinecones for a great centerpiece. The smell of nature is sure to bring out your holiday spirit.
10. Recycled ‘Green’tings Card. Send out holiday greetings made from recycled papers. There are plenty of cool and trendy options here on Pear Tree Greetings to make everyone’s holiday a little more green.
    

 

Family Fun Night

Hi everyone!

I'm so excited to get the opportunity to blog here on Pear Tree - my first blogging ever! A little background on me: My name is Meigan Westermann. I'm almost 37, I have lived in the same small city almost my entire life, I work here part-time and have a home business. I married a high school friend (we didn't become sweethearts until years and miles later) and we have 3 little boys, ages 9, 6 and 4. We also have a cat and a puppy and until recently 2 gerbils as well (I had to stop the madness). We live in a sweet little house on a sweet little street and we alternate our time between being completely content with our lives and wondering how we ended up in what we affectionately refer to as The Crazy Place. Little boys are LOUD! But incredibly sweet when they want to be.

So, Christy had requested that I share stories and thoughts on home, family and some organizational things down the road. A few weeks ago I happened to mention to her that it was officially Westermann Family Fun Night and she begged me to blog it. Here's how it goes:

Westermann Family Fun Night is typically a Friday night. I start with the menu - it includes all the stuff I usually do not allow my children to eat... pizza rolls, cheese dip, cocktail weenies, shrimp, cheese and crackers, age-appropriate cocktails and ice cream sundaes for dessert. I set all this up buffet-style on our kitchen counter and let the kids choose exactly what they want. The only rule is they have to have at least two carrot sticks and the rest is a free-for-all! Now here's the part that makes my boys think that I have lost my mind. Instead of sitting family-style for dinner as usual, they each get to pick out a game and bring it to the kitchen table, and we all play a game WHILE EATING OUR SNACK SUPPERS ON PAPER PLATES! Talk about a giggle-fest. After dinner, my husband and I clean up while the boys pick out a movie and get into their jammies. We end the evening with a family movie and our sundaes.

My kids think it is the best evening ever and we now try to have family fun night around once a month. With all the running we do, we find it a great way to stay at home and enjoy each other again.

If you have your own version of 'Family Fun Night' please comment or email your story to us!